CER 2025: New rally concept promises more action

• Central European Rally to feature 18 stages over four thrilling days of rally action

• Twelfth WRC race starts in Bad Griesbach in October – prize ceremony in Passau

• Easter discount now available until 1st May: 15 percent off all online tickets

WRC World Champion Thierry Neuville and his rivals can expect a total of 18 challenging Special Stages in Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic at the Central European Rally 2025.

Europe is drawing together – a development that the organisers of the Central European Rally are underlining with the 2025 routing. Fans and drivers alike will appreciate the more compact design and increased attractiveness of the spectacular World Rally Championship (WRC) race in the heart of Europe. Starting from the central service park in the Bavarian city of Passau, the stars of the WRC will be racing from Thursday to Sunday over four legs that feel more international than ever. For the first time in the history of the WRC, Friday will see teams will be competing on stages in all three participating countries in one day: Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic. Saturday and Sunday will each feature stages in two of the countries involved. Visitors and fans will not just benefit from the streamlined approach: From 11th April to 1st May, they can also save some cash by entering the discount code “EASTER15” to receive 15 percent off all tickets at centraleuropeanrally.eu.

This year, all days of the rally start and end at the central service park, which is returning to the exhibition centre in Passau-Kohlbruck. Fans can look forward to an extremely compact, spectator-friendly layout with plenty of entertainment and rally feeling. A special highlight: To round off the day’s competition, they will be treated to the sight of the WRC1 teams passing through the adjoining Dreiländerhalle, before heading to a media zone and then to the evening service period. The car park located right next to the service park will be open to visitors and fans, ensuring that no one has far to walk.

Fans of the Central European Rally can save money at Easter: With the discount code ‘EASTER15’ there is a 15 per cent discount on all tickets at www.centraleuropeanrally.eu

Thursday: Focus on Bad Griesbach

Events on Thursday will focus on the golf and spa resort town of Bad Griesbach. The shakedown will take place that morning on a short 5 km variant of the opening stages, which then officially open sporting proceedings in the afternoon. Starting in front of the picturesque backdrop of the thermal baths, the schedule features two runs on the “Golf und Therme” stage before a return to Passau.

Three countries on Friday

For the first time in the history of the WRC, Friday will see competitive action on stages in three different countries on the same day – including the challenge of adjusting tyres and setup to match the changes in road surface. The action starts with the “Granit und Wald” stage in Germany. Visitors and fans will be familiar with the layout around the granite town of Hauzenberg from 2024. The next stage, “Böhmerwald” in Austria, uses parts of a stage that saw action in 2023, which have now been combined with some new sections. The new “Col de Jan” stage in the Czech Republic rounds off the morning’s events. A real highlight is provided by the UNESCO World Heritage site of Český Krumlov. Regrouping will take place in the historic town centre, before the teams proceed to the nearby remote service area. The afternoon loop then features the same stages in reverse order, followed by a return to Passau.

The CER service park returns to Passau. The Kohlbruck exhibition centre is the start and finish point for each of the day's stages.

Popular highlight on Saturday: Klatovy stage in the Czech Republic

The completely new “Made in FRG” stage near Röhrnbach guides attention to the district of Freyung-Grafenau on Saturday, ahead of two stages in the Czech Republic. After the “Keply” stage, drivers head to Klatovy, which is sure to be the most popular event once again: The morning loop ends with the first run on the extended stage near the historic Bohemian town. The subsequent regrouping in the town centre and the extremely popular spectator areas on the edge of Klatovy are sure to be a hotspot for fans. The afternoon then features the two Czech stages and a return to Freyung, where passage control will take place in the heart of town, with the chance to get some autographs. A large supporting programme is also being planned there – in similar fashion to the prize ceremony for the ADAC 3 Cities Rally, the precursor of the German part of the CER that took place here until 2022. The route back to Passau then includes the second run on the “Made in FRG” stage.

Showdown in Austria: decision time on Sunday in Peilstein

The grand finale of the Central European Rally takes place on Sunday in Germany and Austria. The day opens with the cross-border stage “Beyond Borders”, before the action moves to the “Mühltal” stage in Austria after a brief regrouping. There is then another run on the “Beyond Borders” stage, where drivers hit the gas to leave the district of Passau and cross the border at Wegscheid, and regrouping before the big showdown.

The Mühltal 2 stage is classified as the “Wolf Power Stage“, with valuable extra points up for grabs. The drivers then complete the final kilometres in Peilstein, which is also the location for the “Flower Ceremony” to celebrate the winner of the WRC event. This represents the perfect opportunity for the rally hotbed in the Mühlviertel region to put on a proper motorsport party. The Flower Ceremony will only feature drivers and co-drivers, but the main prize ceremony takes place in the afternoon at the service park in Passau: the cars will pass the finish ramp and fans will have plenty of opportunities to get a look at the teams. This will of course be rounded off by the prize ceremony for all classes and an extensive supporting programme.

The Special Stages of the Central European Rally this year cover around 310 kilometres. For the first time, the WRC will complete stages in three different countries on Friday.

CER 2025 Overview

Thursday 16th October 2025

• ⁠Shakedown Bad Griesbach

• Start, Bad Griesbach Therme

• Stage 1 – Golf und Therme 1 (GER)

• Servicepark Passau

• Stage 2 – Golf und Therme 2 (GER)

• Servicepark Passau

  
  

Friday 17th October 2025

• Servicepark Passau

• ⁠Stage 3 – Granit und Wald 1 (GER)

• ⁠Stage 4 – Böhmerwald 1 (AUT)

• ⁠Stage 5 – Col de Jan 1 (CZE)

• ⁠Passage and regrouping, UNESCO World Heritage site Český Krumlov

• ⁠Remote Service, near Český Krumlov

• ⁠Stage 6 – Col de Jan 2 (CZE)

• ⁠Stage 7 – Böhmerwald 2 (AUT)

• ⁠Stage 8 – Granit und Wald 2 (GER)

• Servicepark Passau

  
  

Saturday 18th October 2025

• Servicepark Passau

• Stage 9 – Made in FRG 1 (GER)

• Stage 10 – Keply 1 (CZE)

• Stage 11 – Klatovy 1 (CZE)

• Regrouping in Klatovy town centre, then Tyre Fitting Zone Klatovy

• Stage 12 – Keply 2 (CZE)

• Stage 13 – Klatovy 2 (CZE)

• Passage Control, Freyung town square

• Stage 14 – Made in FRG 2 (GER)

• Servicepark Passau

  
  

Sunday 19th October 2025

• Servicepark Passau

• Stage 15 – Beyond Borders 1 (GER / AUT)

• Regrouping Rohrbach (AUT)

• Stage 16 – Mühltal 1 (AUT)

• Stage 17 – Beyond Borders 2 (GER / AUT)

• Regrouping Rohrbach (AUT), then Tire Fitting Zone ahead of Stage 18

• Stage 18 – Wolf Power Stage Mühltahl 2 with Flower Ceremony

• Final Podium, Servicepark Passau