The Central European Rally returns this October with an exciting, cross-border route through Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic. Fans can look forward to 18 special stages packed into four days of high-speed action and cultural highlights.
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.
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.
Historic tri-nation route on the Friday
The Central European Rally 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 Wald” 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.
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” stage. They will also attract spectators with a Regrouping in the centre of Klatovy and the appealing nearby spectator zones.
Sunday: Finale with a Beyond Borders Feel in Austria and Grand Finish in Passau
The final day starts with the “Beyond-Borders” stage 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, 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”. However, the grand conclusion to the rally will take place in Passau with the official presentation ceremony to honour the most successful competitors in all classes at the Service Park on Sunday afternoon.
Central European Rally 2025
16th-19th October 2025 | CZ, DE, AT
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