The Central European Rally 2025 promises top-class motorsport – more compact, more international, and more fan-friendly than ever before. With spectacular special stages in Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic, a central service park in Passau, and numerous highlights along the route, an unforgettable rally experience awaits.
As a spectacular round of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) in the heart of Europe, the Central European Rally 2025 will be more compact and, therefore, even more attractive for fans and competitors. From the central service park in Passau, Bavaria, the WRC stars will set off from Thursday 16 to Sunday 19 October 2025 across four days that are more international than ever before. For the first time in WRC history, teams will tackle special stages (SS) in all three participating countries – Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic – on a single day: Friday. On Saturday and Sunday, stages will take place in two of the participating countries.
This year, all rally days will begin and end in the central service park, which will once again be located at the exhibition centre in Passau-Kohlbruck. Fans can look forward to a super-compact, spectator-friendly layout with plenty of entertainment and rally atmosphere. A highlight: at the end of each competition day, the WRC1 teams will be presented during a drive-through of the neighbouring Dreiländerhalle before heading to a media zone and then to the evening service. The multi-storey car park directly adjacent to the service park will also be open to fans and visitors, ensuring ultra-short walking distances.
Thursday: Focus on Bad Griesbach
The golf and spa town of Bad Griesbach will take centre stage on Thursday. The shakedown will take place in the morning on a short, almost 5 km version of the opening stages, which will then officially launch the sporting action in the afternoon. Following the start against the picturesque backdrop of the thermal baths, two runs of the ‘Golf und Therme’ special stage are scheduled before the return to Passau in the evening.
Three-country drive on Friday
For the first time in WRC history, Friday’s action will feature special stages in three different countries on the same day – with the added challenge of perfectly matching tyres and set-up to the changing road surfaces. The ‘Granit und Wald’ stage in Germany, running around the granite town of Hauzenberg and familiar to fans from 2024, kicks things off. The following ‘Böhmerwald’ stage in Austria incorporates parts of a stage last used in 2023, now combined with new sections. After the all-new ‘Col de Jan’ stage in the Czech Republic, the rally heads into the lunch service.
One of the highlights is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Český Krumlov on the Vltava River. There, a regrouping takes place in the heart of the historic town centre before the route continues to the nearby remote service. In the afternoon, the same stages are tackled again in reverse order before returning to Passau.
Saturday highlight: Czech cult stage Klatovy
Saturday morning begins with the brand-new ‘Made in FRG’ stage near Röhrnbach, shining a spotlight on the Freyung-Grafenau district. The rally then continues with two Czech stages: following the ‘Keply’ stage, the route heads to Klatovy at midday – a location once again expected to draw large crowds. The morning loop concludes with a first pass over a significantly extended stage near the historic Bohemian town. A regrouping in the town centre is likely to become a fan hotspot, as are the highly popular spectator zones on the city outskirts.
In the afternoon, the route returns to Freyung via the two Czech stages, culminating in a drive-through inspection and autograph session in the town centre. A large supporting programme is also planned – reminiscent of the award ceremony of the ADAC 3-Städte-Rallye, which acted as the forerunner and ‘midwife’ of the German part of the CER until 2022. The day concludes with a second run of the ‘Made in FRG’ stage en route back to Passau.
Showdown in Austria: Final decisions on Sunday in Peilstein
The grand finale of the Central European Rally will take place on Sunday in Germany and Austria. Proceedings begin with the cross-border stage ‘Beyond Borders’, followed by a short regrouping in Rohrbach and the ‘Mühltal’ stage in Austria. After a second run of the Beyond Borders stage – where crews cross the border at full throttle from the Passau district near Wegscheid – and the following regrouping, all is set for the showdown:
The second Mühltal stage, ‘Mühltal 2’, will serve as the ‘Wolf Power Stage’, offering valuable bonus points. The final kilometres lead to Peilstein, where the WRC winners will be honoured in the ‘Flower Ceremony’ – a perfect opportunity for a major motorsport celebration in the rally-mad Mühlviertel region. While only drivers and co-drivers will be featured in the Flower Ceremony, the main winners’ ceremony will be held in the afternoon at the service park in Passau: the cars will roll over the finish ramp and teams will present themselves to the fans. Naturally, there will also be an awards ceremony for all classes and a varied supporting programme.
Save with Easter offer
From 11 April to 1 May inclusive, you can save money by using the discount code EASTER15 to receive 15% off all tickets at www.centraleuropeanrally.eu.
Central European Rally 2025
16th-19th October 2025 | CZ, DE, AT
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