Rallying up close and personal: Many highlights await spectators

• General maps for the special stages at the Central European Rally available online now
• Details on the individual fan zones to be published as they become available
• Tickets for every day of the rally at centraleuropeanrally.eu

Munich. The excitement among fans is growing ahead of the Central European Rally: more important information to help rally fans finalise their plans is now available online, in the form of general maps for the four days of the rally, from 17th to 20th October. They contain the location of all the fan zones on the 18 special stages. Plus, more detailed information on zones, of which there are more than 40, will be released gradually from now on. As well as the location and direction, this information will include descriptions, sketches and even images showing the view of the respective section of route from a fan perspective. The central source of information is the event homepage, where tickets are also available for all days. Day passes cost € 45, while a special parking ticket, which is valid at all fan car parks, can be purchased for € 25. The complete rally experience can be had for € 99 (event pass). All information and the ticket shop can be found at centraleuropeanrally.eu.

The CER website also has information on the fan zones, as does the free “TW-Sportsoft” app. This allows spectators to see in advance which route offers the best action and what services they can expect on site. As well as basics like catering, sanitary facilities and first aid stations, some fan zones also have camping opportunities, commentary, big screens, and much more. When travelling to the event, an easily recognisable sign system guides visitors to individual locations, removing the stress of having to navigate from main roads to the car parks and allowing them to continue on foot to the rally. To ensure that things run smoothly, all fans are requested to wear their ticket visibly. This not only speeds up processes, but also ensures that only visitors with a valid ticket benefit from the comprehensive service, which is only made possible by the sale of tickets.

Start in the Czech Republic to be a fantastic crowd-puller
Following the inaugural rally in 2023, ticket inspection and traffic control processes have been optimised. After all, similar numbers of spectators are expected at the 2024 Central European Rally as they were last year, when a total of 125,000 spectators watched the world’s top rally drivers live on site. The four days of the event have different highlights to offer – in the Czech Republic on the Thursday and Friday, then across the borders in Germany and Austria on the Saturday and Sunday. The show start, in front of the Presidential Palace in the heart of the European metropolis that is Prague, gives fans the opportunity to experience the rally aces up close and personal in interviews and fan promotions. The opening kilometres of the rally then take place on the Velká Chuchle Super Special Stage, when the racecourse on the outskirts of the capital is transformed into a spectacular rally stage, easily visible from the huge grandstands. Next on the programme is a special stage in Klatovy in the Pilsen region. 12 kilometres of action await the rally drivers there, while spectators can enjoy seven fan zones. Important to know: unlike for the other days of the rally, there is no day pass for the two special stages on the Thursday. Specific tickets (€ 40 for standing, € 80 for grandstand seats) are available for Velká Chuchle – admission to the Super Special Stage is also not included in the Rally Pass. It allows admission to all spectator zones from Friday to Sunday and, as a bonus, also includes admission to the stage in Klatovy on the Thursday evening. After an overnight Parc Fermé in Klatovy town centre, the action comes thick and fast on the Friday: as well as the two loops Klatovy (SS 3/6), the drivers also tackle special stages 4/7 Strašin (24.69 km) and 5/8 Šumavské Hoštice (16.85 km) twice. As well as a host of fan zones with car parks, catering and sanitary facilities, a special highlight awaits at the end of the longest stage of the day at Hoslovice Ranch: the horse farm has a special programme with catering, horse shows, an LED big screen, and many more attractions. Camping is also possible here.

Saturday: Endless motorsport action
Saturday features three special stages in Germany and Austria, each of which will be tackled twice. After SS 9/12 “Granit und Wald” in Germany, SS 10/13 literally be a borderline experience: the “Beyond Borders” stage starts in Germany, then heads at race speed over the border and into Austria – a first for the Central European Rally. Just beyond the border, a real “fan arena” will be erected, offering a fantastic view of a spectacular jump. Stage 11/14 “Schärdinger Innviertel” takes place exclusively in Austria. One special tip for the Saturday is Hauzenberg in Bavaria. From here, shuttles will run to the “Granit und Wald” stage. At the same time, starters in the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup will also drive through Hauzenberg – a good reason to visit the picturesque town centre. One day later, the shops will open on a Sunday for a change, inviting visitors to relax and take a stroll through the town.

Sunday is all about the winners
The race winners will be decided on the Sunday, very close to the three-country border between Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic. As well as spectator hotspots on SS 15/17 “Knaus Tabbert am Hochwald”, the focus of the fans will also primarily be on SS 16/18 “Passauer Land”. Real rally fans are likely to head to the end of the stage – particularly on the second loop, when valuable Power Stage bonus points are up for grabs: it is here that the rally aces will race through the finish arch, and the so-called “Flower Ceremony” – the provisional presentation ceremony – will also be held next to the Nordic skiing centre. The ceremonial trophy presentation for the WRC stars will then take place in the beautiful Passau city centre, where rally fans are not only invited to celebrate the teams, but also to check out the old town, which is well worth a visit.