Central European Rally: Compact programme with excellent views for fans

• Detailed information regarding fan zones is now available online

• Clear signposting system easily guides spectators to fan zones

• All information and tickets can be found at centraleuropeanrally.eu

At the Central European Rally, there are easily accessible spectator points with lots of extra services at all stages. A sophisticated guidance system conveniently directs visitors to parking facilities in all zones.

Fans of the Central European Rally have good cause to be happy: detailed plans of the special stages and all visitor zones are now available on the event website. They show where the best places are, from which to watch the 18 special stages – from Thursday’s Prologue to the Power Stage on the final day. On the homepage for the event, each zone has a detailed description, including a map, directions, infrastructure and specific tips. In the rally region, a clear signposting system makes it even easier to find one’s way: each special stage is assigned a letter, while the spectator points are numbered consecutively (e.g. “A1” and “A2” on the “Golf und Therme” stage). Once near the rally location, a simple sign system guides visitors from the main roads to the car parks, then on to the fan zones. This way, spectators can reach their personal rally experience comfortably and safely. As well as the fan zones along the route, many sites throughout the region are also hosting fan activities – from autograph sessions and interviews to live music. With all this going on, the heart of the rally is always Passau: each day of the rally starts and ends in the Service Park at the Kohlbruck exhibition centre. Here, fans can experience at first hand the teams working on the WRC cars. All information and sketches can be found now – in German, English and Czech – on the official homepage of the event at centraleuropeanrally.eu.

Overview of the CER spectator points on Thursday, October 16, 2025. Detailed maps for each special stage are available on the official website at centraleuropeanrally.eu.

Thursday: Opener at Bad Griesbach thermal springs

The eyes of the rally world will be on Bad Griesbach on the opening day of the rally. This is where round twelve of the 2025 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) begins with the Shakedown, a far longer version of which will also be tackled twice under competition conditions. The two loops of the “Golf und Therme” special stage offer excellent opportunities to watch the WRC stars go head to head for the first time. A three-hour Regrouping at the thermal springs in Bad Griesbach, between the two loops, will be particularly appealing. Interviews, autograph sessions and an entertaining fan programme await here. Anyone wanting to combine motorsport with live entertainment is in the right place. Once the competitors have returned to the Service Park in Passau, an opening day offering the perfect mix of sporting drama and proximity to the teams draws to a close.

Overview of the CER spectator points on Friday, October 17, 2025.

Friday: Premiere atmosphere in the Czech Republic and a rally festival in Český Krumlov

Day two of the Central European Rally unites the people of Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic, as the route throws up multiple highlights in all three organising nations. First up is the traditional “Granit und Wald” special stage around Hauzenberg, where fans will be able to check out the cars in the town centre in both the morning and early evening. The Böhmerwald (Bohemian Forest) stage in Austria then leads to the new stage “Col de Jan”, which promises to be a real crowd-puller. A very special experience awaits between the two loops in Český Krumlov: the UNESCO World Heritage Site on the banks of the Vltava river will be transformed into a rally arena in the afternoon. The drive through the city and Regrouping in the historic city centre will see motorsport history and culture brought together in impressive fashion. The waiting time between the first and second loop of the stages in Germany and Austria will also fly by, as spectators are treated to several appearances from the protagonists in the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup and the vintage rally cars of Slowly Sideways. The field then returns to Passau in the evening – a day of rallying not to be missed for lovers of sport and culture alike.

Overview of the CER spectator points on Saturday, October 18, 2025

Saturday: Focus on the fans in Freyung and Klatovy

Saturday once again takes in Germany and the Czech Republic – with two main focal points for the spectators. In the region around Freyung, the “Made in FRG” special stage near Röhrnbach offers attractive spectator points, while the town itself has put together a programme for fans that includes interviews and team presentations. Here too, the starters in the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup and Slowly Sideways will be doing their thing between the two WRC loops. In the Czech Republic, the elite of the rallying world travels via the “Keply” stage to the cult Czech stage “Klatovy”, with the Regrouping phase in the historic town square of Klatovy also set to attract many visitors. This is not the only place fans can experience the stars of the World Rally Championship up close and personal: Saturday also draws to a close with a packed fan programme in the Passau Service Park – an ideal place to glimpse behind the scenes as the teams go about their business.

Overview of the CER spectator points on Sunday, October 19, 2025.

Sunday: Finale with Power Stage and presentation ceremony

The final day of the 2025 Central European Rally is where it will all be decided. Every second counts on the “Beyond Borders” and “Mühltal” stages, with valuable world championship points up for grabs. The second loop on the 26-kilometre Mühltal stage is classed as the Power Stage, with bonus points to be won, maintaining the sporting drama right down to the finish. In Peilstein, the finish area will be transformed into a party hotspot: fans can follow the spectacular action on a wide, winding section of the route, before the fastest three drivers are celebrated immediately after the finish. Rounding off the event is the official presentation ceremony in the afternoon at the Dreiländerhalle in Passau. The rally ends where it started – at the Kohlbruck Service Park, where fans, teams and drivers will celebrate the winners in style.

The special stages at a glance *

Thursday, 16^th October

Shakedown Bad Griesbach 08:01

SS 01/02 Golf und Therme 14:30 / 18:05

Friday, 17^th October

SS 03/08 Granit und Wald 08:30 / 18:15

SS 04/07 Böhmerwald 09:20 / 17:20

SS 05/06 Col de Jan 11:2h / 14:45

Saturday, 18^th October

SS 09/14 Made in FRG 08:15 / 18:25

SS 10/12 Keply 10:35 / 14:05

SS 11/13 Klatovy 11:35 / 15:05

Sunday, 19^th October

SS 15/17 Beyond Borders 08:25 / 11:10

SS16/18 Mühltal (second loop: Wolf Power Stage) 10:05 / 13:15

*) the times refer to the first car on each stage

Spectator highlights at a glance

Passau: The Service Park at the Dreiländerhalle in the district of Kohlbruck is the heart of the rally: it is here that the days start and end, cars are dismantled and reassembled, and successes are celebrated. The evening car presentation, when the WRC cars roll through the Dreiländerhalle, is particularly spectacular and includes a stage show. Live music from the band Inferno on the Friday and with Dis M on the Saturday makes for a festival atmosphere, while there are also plenty of activities for fans to enjoy. The absolute highlight: the presentation ceremony from 16:30 on Sunday in the Dreiländerhalle.

Bad Griesbach thermal springs: The rally kicks off with the Showdown and opening special stages to the west of Bad Griesbach – perfect for a first live impression of the rally. A three-hour Regrouping is the ideal way to pass the time between loops, with autograph sessions and an entertaining programme for fans. From Thursday to Saturday, the Bad Griesbach thermal springs will also be base camp for the vintage cars of Slowly Sideways, which this year includes an Opel Ascona A with none other than Walter Röhrl in the driver’s seat. This is where the stars of the world championship meet rally history.

Český Krumlov: The UNESCO World Culture Site of Český Krumlov is a rally highlight on the Friday. The picturesque old town on the banks of the Vltava river forms the backdrop for the WRC cars as they travel through the city to the Regrouping in the city centre. Surrounded by historic buildings, fans can enjoy motorsport stars on a unique stage here.

Hauzenberg: This is where motorsport history meets the future: the WRC field will pass through the town on the Friday, before the Slowly Sideways teams arrive on the Saturday. Finally, on the Sunday, Hauzenberg receives a visit from the fully-electric cars of the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup, whose Service Park for the whole rally weekend is the Hauzenberg football stadium. As such, the town will combine three facets of the sport – classics, present-day WRC action, and the electric future of rallying.

Klatovy: The historic town square in Klatovy will be transformed into a rally hotspot on the Saturday: Media Zone, Regrouping and many fan activities make the central marketplace in the old town a real crowd-puller. Just one kilometre away is the Tyre Fitting Zone, while it goes without saying that the special stage of the same name passes by the town’s doorstep. The stage has taken on cult status for the Czech fans and attracts big crowds with its attractive spectator points and good infrastructure.

Freyung: Freyung joins the rally schedule on the Saturday: here, fans can check out the teams during a passage control that includes short interviews. Before the WRC powerhouses arrive, it is the turn of the vintage cars of Slowly Sideways – a nostalgic treat for any rally fan. The mix of accessibility to fans and historic motorsport make the central town in the Freyung-Grafenau district a special place to visit for anyone wanting to experience an authentic rally atmosphere.

Peilstein: There will be plenty of emotion on display in Peilstein on the Sunday: the Mühltal special stage, which is classed as the Power Stage on the second loop, ends here. The top three teams will be honoured in the finish zone at the civic centre. Around the town, a large spectator zone offers excellent views of the action. Motorsport, drama and a party atmosphere are guaranteed in Peilstein.