A dress rehearsal for the main event of the day, the bonus points-paying power stage, ended the two-stage morning loop on the final morning of the inaugural Central European Rally. After opening the competitive action on the Böhmerwald stage in Austria, the crews returned across the border to Germany to take their first run through the 16.37 km Passauer Land stage. A break was needed at the start to ensure spectator safety, then the field was released into the sun-dappled forest stage. Elfyn Evans set a high benchmark from first on the road with the cleanest conditions and nobody got close to it, handing the Welshman his third stage win of the event – one in each host nation of the event, having previously won stages in Czechia and Austria. Pierre-Louis Loubet survived a slide off the course into one of the rare open fields alongside the route, prompted by a broken driveshaft, which added to a dramatic rally that has included a puncture and both time penalties and a fine for incorrectly-worn safety equipment.
#7 Pierre-Louis Loubet (FRA) / Benjamin Veilas (FRA), Ford Puma Rally1 Hybrid
“We broke the transmission after the second corner. When I brake all the front lock and everything. I try until the moment but it was too big to continue to try to attack. I think the front driveshaft failed.”
#13 Grégoire Munster (LUX) / Louis Louka (BEL), Ford Puma Rally1 Hybrid
“Ninety percent is perfectly dry and you can push a lot. In some section a lot of bad leaves that come on the road from the first car. But we’re taking it easy.”
#18 Takamoto Katsuta (JPN) / Aaron Johnston (IRL), Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid
“It’s not easy because some corners you can see a lot of mud but obviously not as I expected. I was way, way too careful because I expected more mud coming from.”
#8 Sébastien Ogier (FRA) / Vincent Landais (FRA), Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid
“All good with the tyres. Obviously more cuts in this one, so no surprise the front runners are faster. Generally around the rally there was nice support so thank you for that.”
#8 Ott Tänak (EST) / Martin Järveoja (EST), Ford Puma Rally1 Hybrid
“Lost the gear knob in the stage as well so it was a bit challenging but all good. I tried to keep it on!”
#69 Kalle Rovanperä (FIN) / Jonne Halttonen (FIN), Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid
“The driving is the same, we try to concentrate and do our jobs without mistakes. Of course there’s a bit bigger goal at the end of the day waiting for us which we try to reach.”
#11 Thierry Neuville (BEL) / Martijn Wydaeghe (BEL), Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid
“I am not sure I’m really enjoying it. I mean we have a comfortable gap now and just trying to get through without any technical issue, without any puncture and without any mistake. Just driving through to be honest, just trying to keep concentration and finish the job.”
#27 Emil Lindholm (FIN) / Reeta Hämäläinen (FIN), Hyundai i20 N
"On the way to the first special stage we had a V-belt failure. That meant the end of our rally. Up to that point we were doing really well."