Final details confirmed for the Central European Rally

• Glamorous start to the new WRC Round in the shadow of Prague Castle
• Special stage in Velká Chuchle, on the outskirts of the Czech capital
• First WRC Stages ever on Czech soil

The organisers of the Central European Rally, from 26th to 29th October, have spent a long time fine-tuning their plans. The final details have now been confirmed. The penultimate round of this season’s FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) opens on the Thursday (26th October) with the official start, which is followed by the first special stage at Velká Chuchle racecourse. The same afternoon also features an attractive stage in Klatovy, which is also known as the Cinov stage by well-versed fans. After returning to the service park in Passau, Germany, that evening, the three following legs all start from the Three-River City. Friday sees the drivers take on six special stages in Prachatice and Vimperk. Germany and Austria then host the stages on Saturday and Sunday, before the best rally drivers in the world are expected at the presentation ceremony in the centre of Passau from 14:30 on the Sunday. Information and tickets are available on the official homepage at centraleuropeanrally.eu.

When, at precisely 13:00 on the Sunday, the first car rolls over the start ramp at the ceremonial start in Prague, it will be official: here in Hradčany Square, against the backdrop of Prague Castle, the World Rally Championship will go racing on Czech soil for the first time. One hour later, the first winners of the rally weekend will be determined on the ultracompact route in Velká Chuchla: the 2.44-kilometre track is located right in front of the main grandstand at the racecourse. The action there promises to be just as captivating as that at the Klatovy circuit, where the second stage gets underway at 18:05.

Over 300 km of world championship battles
Friday’s schedule features three routes in the Bohemian Forest. The Vlachovo Březí (13.71 km), Zvotoky (24.29 km) and Šumavské Hoštice (23.37 km) stages will be tacked twice, once in the morning and then again in the afternoon. Between the two loops there will be a regrouping at the marketplace in Prachatice. The teams do not return to Passau until the evening. The programme and routes for Saturday and Sunday remain unchanged. In total, the drivers will take on 18 special stages, with 313 kilometres against the clock. The total distance of the rally is 1,650 kilometres.

Unanimous joy in the Czech rally community
“The fact that the best drivers in the world will compete in Chuchle is a great honour for us,” says Fabrizio Sinigallia on behalf of Velká Chuchle, which hosts the opening special stage. “We will ensure conditions are perfect for them, and believe they will feel right at home here. Spectators and rally fans can look forward to a fantastic experience. We believe that this show will go down in the history of Czech sport.” New asphalt areas are being built on the site, specifically for the WRC special stage.

For Czech driver Erik Cais, the whole event will be very attractive – particularly the part in Prague: “It will definitely be interesting, above all for the spectators,” he says confidently. “The whole rally is new, and it is not every day you get to experience WRC cars in Hradčany Square in Prague or watch the battles in Velká Chuchle. We are very much looking forward to it and hope that as many spectators as possible will support us at the first World Championship rally in the Czech Republic.”

A first for Czech motorsport
According to Tomáš Kunc, general secretary of the Autoclub of the Czech Republic and managing director of the Central European Rally, staging a round of the World Rally Championship on Czech soil is a dream come true for a whole generation. “We are going to be welcoming a high-class World Championship, in which works teams are heavily involved. The Central European Rally is the penultimate round of the season, so the World Championship title could be at stake. And we are part of all that! Plus, we are starting at Prague Castle and there will be a special stage in Chuchle,” he said, stressing what a historic moment this is for Czech motorsport. He hopes to see as many Czech fans as possible on the special stages, but is aware that the event will result in some restrictions. “We will agree the closures with the police, in order to ensure there are as few disruptions as possible. We hope that everyone will be tolerant with us,” said Kunc. He is also delighted with the interest shown by Czech teams. “I hope that we will have a large number of local drivers in the starting field. The feedback has been positive and we are ready for up to 80 teams,” said Kunc.

Central European Rally itinerary

Thursday, 26th October
13:00 Ceremonial Start, Hradčanské náměstí (Hradčany Square), Prague (CZE)
14:05 SS 1 – Velká Chuchle (CZE), 2.44 km
18:05 SS 2 – Klatovy (CZE), 8.92 km
20:45 Arrival at Service Park Passau (GER)

Friday, 27th October
07:00 Service, Service Park Passau
09:50 SS 3 – Vlachovo Březí 1(CZE), 13.71 km
10:42 SS 4 – Zvotoky 1 (CZE), 24.29 km
12:15 SS 5 – Šumavské Hoštice 1 (CZE), 23.37 km
13:02 Regrouping and Technical Zone, Prachatice (CZE)
14:32 SS 6 – Vlachovo Březí 2 (CZE), 13.71 km
15:24 SS 7 – Zvotoky 2 (CZE), 24.29 km
16:59 SS 8 – Šumavské Hoštice 2 (CZE), 23.37 km
19:24 Arrival at Service Park Passau (GER).

Saturday, 28th October
07:00 Service, Service Park Passau (GER)
08:15 SS 9 – Schärdinger Innviertel 1 (AUT), 16.02 km
10:01 SS 10 – Mühltal 1 (AUT), 27.83 km
11:05 SS 11 – Knaus Tabbert Bayerischer Wald 1 (GER), 11,88 km
13:00 Regrouping and Service, Service Park Passau (GER)
15:15 SS 12 – Schärdinger Innviertel 2 (AUT), 16.02 km
17:01 SS 13 – Mühltal 2 (AUT), 27.83 km
18:05 SS 14 – Knaus Tabbert Bayerischer Wald 2 (GER) 11.88 km
19:55 Arrival at Service Park Passau (GER).

Sunday, 29th October
06:20 Service, Service Park Passau (GER)
08:06 SS 15 – Böhmerwald 1 (AUT), 17.25 km
08:33 Regrouping, Ulrichsberg (AUT)
09:35 SS 16 – Passauer Land 1 (GER), 16.37 km
10:34 SS 17 – Böhmerwald 2 (AUT), 17.25 km
11:01 Regrouping, Ulrichsberg (AUT)
12:15 SS 18 – Wolf Powerstage Passauer Land 2 (GER), 16.37 km
14:30 Finish and Presentation Ceremony, Passau (GER)