Facts and figures about the Central European Rally

• 18 special stages with a total length of over 300 km are on the programme over the four days of the rally

• 150,000 spectators from all over the world watched the rally weekend at its premiere in 2023

• Numerous measures contribute to the CER's sustainability goals

Before the award ceremony in front of the town hall in Passau, the world's best rally drivers will pass through an almost 1,600-kilometre route, with more than 300 kilometres of special stages waiting for them.

Fantastic asphalt stages in three European countries, combined into one WRC rally: what was a novelty in the FIA World Rally Championship in 2023 remains unique worldwide this year. A tremendous amount of effort is being made to ensure that the action-packed event runs smoothly and safely for everyone involved from start in Prague (CZE) to finish in Passau (GER). Here are the most important facts and figures for the twelfth of 13 rounds of the 2024 WRC season.

Route (rounded figures)

1,585 km in total distance will be covered during the rally days – the noticeable shortening of the route compared to 2023 was achieved by optimising processes, especially on Thursday.

303 km is the total length of the 18 special stages. 

210 km of the special stages are new – either as completely new routes or because of a change of direction compared to 2023.

26.69 km is the length of the longest special stage of the rally (SS 4/7 Strašín), which will be completed in the Czech Republic on Friday.

Preparations for the special stages begin 14 days before the event, when the spectator areas are prepared, routes signposted and no-parking zones designated (one week before the start).

From 5 days before the start in Prague, the special stages are finally set up so that they can be inspected by FIA experts on Tuesdays.

5 of the CER's routes (including the shakedown) are in the Czech Republic.

4 stages are in Germany.

1 stage is exclusively in Austria.

1 stage of the rally is cross-border: for the first time, a stage on Saturday will start in Germany and end in Austria (SS 10/13 Beyond Borders).

The WRC1 drivers will be competing in the 18 Special Stages of the Central European Rally with a 500-hp hybrid drive, whose combustion engine is fuelled with fossil-free fuel.

Safety

Around 2,000 marshals will be on duty during the event.

Approximately 1,000 people in each of the three countries are on duty around the special stages every day – from police and security forces to traffic services, parking attendants and ticket sellers.

Approximately 23 km of ‘onion sacks’ mark the spectator areas as mobile barriers. The robust plastic material was largely used last year – a measure to avoid waste.

Around 80 km of barrier tape will guide visitors in the right direction. It will be used, for example, to mark out safe, convenient and environmentally friendly footpaths to the spectator points.

More than 60 people will be on hand as medical personnel for the rally alone, on each day of the event, to be on the scene quickly in the event of an accident.

24 emergency vehicles and MIC (Medical Intervention Cars) will be available at the special stages.

3 to 5 medical points will be set up for spectators at each special stage. These serve as a point of contact in case of problems and, in addition to specialist staff, also have an ambulance.

Organisation team

170 people make up the extended organisation, in which stewards and technical commissioners, paper acceptance and many other functions are filled.

Over 30 people control all processes during the event in the rally control. This is where all the information from the special stages comes together. In addition to the team from the FIA and the track security, spectator guidance, police and emergency services are represented to ensure that everything runs smoothly.

12 people are involved in the preparation of the Central European Rally as a core team throughout the year.

125,000 spectators watched the inaugural CER in 2023, and the organisers are expecting an impressive crowd for the second edition as well, with the world's best rally drivers in attendance.

Spectators 

125,000 spectators were counted during the four days of the Central European Rally 2023.

42 official spectator points have been set up for fans from all over the world. 

8 bus shuttles run from central car parks to the special stages, thus relieving the pressure on natural and agricultural areas.

Sustainability measures

150 document bags were made from discarded advertising banners from the CER 2023.

30 local organisations and associations are involved in the rally.

25 electric or hydrogen vehicles are used by the rally for its organisational team, making it mobile with predominantly environmentally friendly technology.

22 eco- marshals help visitors to comply with environmentally friendly behaviour.

22 prizes come from local workshops for people with disabilities.

20 members are part of the CER sustainability team. They plan all appropriate measures and contribute to their implementation.

10 large-scale information boards inform visitors about environmentally friendly behaviour at the special stages.

3 stars are the CER's first attempt at the FIA Environmental Accreditation.