Spectacular parade through Prague heralds Central European Rally

• Big crowds for the CER Prologue in the Czech capital Prague
• WRC cars against the historic backdrop of the Golden City
• Central European Rally officially starts on Thursday (16th October) at Passau Service Park

Munich. The third edition of the Central European Rally was heralded by a spectacular parade through Prague, as the Czech capital remained a valuable part of round twelve of this year’s FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). On Sunday (12th October), seven rally cars demonstrated their power and precision in the heart of the city, against the backdrop of world-famous landmarks. The highlight of the event was an opportunity for fans to meet the protagonists at the headquarters of the Autoclub of the Czech Republic. The Prologue was officially opened by the President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel.

At the head of the convoy was talented Czech rally driver Petr Kačírek jr. The stars of the show were naturally the three Rally1 cars – a Hyundai with Frenchman Adrien Formaux at the wheel, a Ford driven by Luxembourg’s Grégoire Munster, and a Toyota with Finnish driver Sami Pajari. They were joined by three WRC2 competitors: Filip Mareš (Toyota), Jan Černý (Škoda) and Germany’s Philip Geipel (Toyota).

“I am thrilled that the rally cars drove through Prague, and even more so that the parade was opened by President Petr Pavel in person,” said JUDr. Jan Šťovíček, President of the Autoclub of the Czech Republic. “Seeing the WRC cars in the city centre perfectly captures the spirit of a world championship event in the heart of Europe.” The 12-kilometre route of the parade began at 14:00 in front of the headquarters of the Autoclub and, with a police escort, led the participants past the State Opera and the National Museum. The route also took in such landmarks as Charles Square, the Dancing House, the National Theatre, and Charles Bridge on its way to the Rudolfinum, where the drivers stopped for almost an hour to meet fans and journalists. The return route took them over Mánes Bridge, with the view of Prague Castle in the background, and back into the Old Town. The afternoon ended with an autograph and meet the fans session at the headquarters of the Autoclub of the Czech Republic.

“Prague is the most remarkable place I have ever driven a WRC car. Absolutely extraordinary. I have been here a few times, so I knew many of the landmarks we passed today. To drive through the city centre with so many fans watching was unbelievable – the energy coming from the crowds gave the whole event a certain magical feeling,” said Finnish Toyota driver Sami Pajari. “There were so many people cheering us on along the route. Although we had to concentrate on driving, I tried to acknowledge their support whenever possible. It was wonderful to see that so many fans had made their way to the route to support us. I am really grateful. It was awesome to be part of it,” added Filip Mareš, who crossed the CER finish line as runner-up in the WRC2 class in 2024.

The Central European Rally officially gets underway on Thursday (16th October) with two special stages in Bad Griesbach. Over the next few days, the competitors will take in a further 16 stages in the region bordering Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic. The rally ends on Sunday (19th October) with the presentation ceremony in Passau.