Three countries, one event: Route confirmed for the 2025 CER

• 2025 CER to feature even more compact format and new spectator focuses
• International programme on each day, tri-nation route on Friday
• Focus on Passau Service Park, further highlights in Bad Griesbach, Röhrnbach, Freyung, Hauzenberg (all GER), Klatovy (CZE) and Peilstein (AUT)

Munich. Countless highlights, spread across three countries: the Central European Rally is back – and with a route that is both international and fan-friendly. From 16th to 19th October 2025, the top teams in the FIA World Rally Championship will go head to head on 18 special stages, covering roughly 305 kilometres against the clock in the area around the border between the three countries of Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic. Despite a slight increase in the number of competitive kilometres, the format in 2025 will actually be more compact. The liaison stages have been shortened significantly, while the Service Park returns to Passau and is the daily base. The new “Col de Jan” special stage in the Czech Republic, popular classics like Klatovy (CZE) and Mühltal (AUT), and the final cross-border showdown near Passau promise to deliver a high-class rally experience. Fans will be particularly pleased to hear that regional focuses will reduce journeys to spectator points. All information on the route and tickets can be found at centraleuropeanrally.eu.

The heart of this year’s rally is once again the Service Park at the Passau-Kohlbruck event site, where all the legs start and finish. Fans can not only watch the teams up close and personal there, but will also find an extensive event programme. The sporting action gets underway on Thursday around Bad Griesbach. The morning Shakedown represents the final opportunity for teams to do any testing. In the afternoon, the “Golf und Therme” special stage to the west of the golf and spa town features twice on the schedule. Between the two runs on this prologue special stage, a party is planned to mark the opening of the rally. As well as music and shows, the Kurplatz will also host autograph sessions and interviews with the rally drivers. While admission to this event is free, anyone in possession of a Rally Pass receives 20% off admission to the Therme Bad Griesbach thermal springs on this day.

Historic tri-nation route on the Friday
The CER will make rally history on the Friday: the “Granit und Wald” (GER), “Böhmerwald” (AUT) and “Col de Jan” (CZE) special stages take the WRC route through three European countries on one day for the first time. The drivers will tackle the Czech stage to the north-east of Kaplice twice. Between the two loops, the programme includes the Regrouping, which features a spectacular drive through the historic heart of Český Krumlov, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as the Remote Service in Kaplice. On the way back via the Böhmerwald special stage to the west of Julbach, the traditional CER stage “Granit und Wal” near Hauzenberg represents another highlight for spectators. The ‘granite town’ at the foot of the Staffelberg hill in Lower Bavaria will put on a big show to welcome the WRC, celebrating the cars appropriately as they pass through the Marktplatz. Guests here on the Saturday include the starters in the vintage rally community “Slowly Sideways. On the Sunday, as an exception, the shops in the town centre will open, as Hauzenberg also features on the route of the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup – a perfect combination with the nearby spectator points on the “Granit und Wald” special stage.

Saturday: New German stage and cult Czech stage
The longest day of the rally awaits fans and competitors on the Saturday, as the route heads from Germany to the Czech Republic. First up is the new “Made in FRG” special stage near Röhrnbach. The new route is set to transform the district of Freyung-Grafenau into an international rally stage: to mark the afternoon’s checkpoint, a rally party is planned on the idyllic town square in Freyung, while the nearby special stage obviously invites spectators to come and check out the WRC action. Before they get there, however, the teams and cars must travel to the Czech fan highlight, with special stages 10/12 “Keply” to the west of Sušice and the classic “Klatovy” (SS 11/13). They will also attract spectators with the Regrouping in the centre of Klatovy and the appealing nearby spectator zones.

Sunday: Showdown with border flair and finale in the Austrian Mühlviertel region
The final day starts with the “Beyond-Borders” stage (SS 15/17) in the eastern district of Passau, which sees the competitors travel from Germany to Austria at full throttle near Fuchsödt (municipality of Wegscheid). Not far from there, to the west of Rohrbach, is the start of the “Mühltal” special stage (SS 16/18), which is classed as the “Wolf Power Stage” on the afternoon’s second loop, meaning valuable bonus points are up for grabs. The tension will understandably be palpable as spectators and competitors alike wait to discover the final positions after the special stage in Peilstein (Mühlviertel), where the overall winner will be crowned for the first time at the “Flower Ceremony”. Anyone who knows the rally-mad community, also knows that there will be plenty of enthralling fan activities to mark the occasion. However, the grand conclusion to the rally will take place in Passau: it is here that the official presentation ceremony will honour the most successful competitors in all classes at the Service Park on the Sunday afternoon.