| 2023 Central European Rally Central Europe Rally 2023
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| Host country |  | 
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| Rally base | Passau, Bavaria, Germany | 
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| Dates run | 26 – 29 October 2023 | 
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| Start location | Velká Chuchle, Prague, Czech Republic | 
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| Finish location | Passau, Bavaria, Germany | 
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| Stages | 18 (311.79 km; 193.74 miles)[1] | 
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| Stage surface | Tarmac | 
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| Transport distance | 1,355.29 km (842.14 miles) | 
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| Overall distance | 1,667.08 km (1,035.88 miles) | 
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| Crews registered | 68 | 
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| Crews | 67 at start, 54 at finish | 
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| Overall winner | .svg.png) Thierry Neuville 
 .svg.png) Martijn Wydaeghe 
  Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT 2:52:39.9
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| Power Stage winner |  Elfyn Evans 
  Scott Martin 
  Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT 8:42.3
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| WRC-2 winner |  Nicolas Ciamin 
  Yannick Roche 3:04:33.0
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| WRC-3 winner |  Filip Kohn 
  Tom Woodburn 3:23:04.4
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The 2023 Central European Rally (also known as the Central Europe Rally 2023) was a motor racing event for rally cars which was held from 26 to 29 October 2023.[2] It marked the first running of the Central European Rally, and was the twelfth round of the 2023 World Rally Championship, World Rally Championship-2 and World Rally Championship-3. The event was based in Passau, Bavaria, Germany, and was contested over eighteen special stages covering a total competitive distance of 311.79 km (193.74 mi).[1]
Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe won their second rally of the season. Their team, Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT, were the manufacturer's winners.[3] Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen became the 2023 World Rally Champions after finishing second.[4] Nicolas Ciamin and Yannick Roche won the World Rally Championship-2 category, while Andreas Mikkelsen and Torstein Eriksen won the 2023 WRC-2 title.[5] Filip Kohn and Tom Woodburn won the World Rally Championship-3 category.
Background
Entry list
The following crews entered into the rally. The event was opened to crews competing in the World Rally Championship, its support categories, the World Rally Championship-2, World Rally Championship-3 and privateer entries that were not registered to score points in any championship. Ten entered under Rally1 regulations, as were thirty-one Rally2 crews in the World Rally Championship-2 and three Rally3 crews in the World Rally Championship-3.[6][7]
Rally1 entries competing in the World Rally Championship
| No. | Driver | Co-Driver | Entrant | Car | Championship eligibility | Tyre | 
| 3 |  Teemu Suninen |  Mikko Markkula |  Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT | Hyundai i20 N Rally1 | Driver, Co-driver, Manufacturer | P | 
| 4 |  Esapekka Lappi |  Janne Ferm |  Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT | Hyundai i20 N Rally1 | Driver, Co-driver, Manufacturer | P | 
| 7 |  Pierre-Louis Loubet |  Benjamin Veillas |  M-Sport Ford WRT | Ford Puma Rally1 | Driver, Co-driver, Manufacturer | P | 
| 8 |  Ott Tänak |  Martin Järveoja |  M-Sport Ford WRT | Ford Puma Rally1 | Driver, Co-driver, Manufacturer | P | 
| 11 | .svg.png) Thierry Neuville | .svg.png) Martijn Wydaeghe |  Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT | Hyundai i20 N Rally1 | Driver, Co-driver, Manufacturer | P | 
| 13 |  Grégoire Munster | .svg.png) Louis Louka |  M-Sport Ford WRT | Ford Puma Rally1 | Driver, Co-driver | P | 
| 17 |  Sébastien Ogier |  Vincent Landais |  Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT | Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 | Driver, Co-driver, Manufacturer | P | 
| 18 |  Takamoto Katsuta |  Aaron Johnston |  Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT | Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 | Driver, Co-driver | P | 
| 33 |  Elfyn Evans |  Scott Martin |  Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT | Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 | Driver, Co-driver, Manufacturer | P | 
| 69 |  Kalle Rovanperä |  Jonne Halttunen |  Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT | Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 | Driver, Co-driver, Manufacturer | P | 
Rally2 entries competing in the World Rally Championship-2
| No. | Driver | Co-Driver | Entrant | Car | Championship eligibility | Tyre | 
| 20 |  Andreas Mikkelsen |  Torstein Eriksen |  Toksport WRT 3 | Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 | Driver, Co-driver, Team | P | 
| 21 |  Yohan Rossel |  Arnaud Dunand |  PH Sport | Citroën C3 Rally2 | Driver, Co-driver | P | 
| 22 |  Gus Greensmith |  Jonas Andersson |  Toksport WRT 3 | Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 | Driver, Co-driver, Team | P | 
| 23 |  Sami Pajari |  Enni Mälkönen |  Toksport WRT 2 | Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 | Team | P | 
| 25 | _WA.svg.png) Nikolay Gryazin[a] | _WA.svg.png) Konstantin Aleksandrov[b] |  Toksport WRT 2 | Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 | Challenger Driver, Challenger Co-driver, Team | P | 
| 26 |  Kajetan Kajetanowicz |  Maciej Szczepaniak |  Kajetan Kajetanowicz | Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 | Challenger Driver, Challenger Co-driver | P | 
| 27 |  Emil Lindholm |  Reeta Hämäläinen |  Hyundai Motorsport N | Hyundai i20 N Rally2 | Driver, Co-driver, Team | P | 
| 28 |  Mikołaj Marczyk |  Daniel Dymurski |  Mikołaj Marczyk | Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 | Challenger Driver, Challenger Co-driver | P | 
| 29 |  Lauri Joona |  Tuukka Shemeikka |  Lauri Joona | Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 | Challenger Driver, Challenger Co-driver | — | 
| 30 |  Georg Linnamäe |  James Morgan |  Georg Linnamäe | Hyundai i20 N Rally2 | Challenger Driver, Challenger Co-driver | P | 
| 31 |  Erik Cais |  Daniel Trunkát |  Erik Cais | Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 | Challenger Driver, Challenger Co-driver | P | 
| 32 |  Josh McErlean |  James Fulton |  Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy | Hyundai i20 N Rally2 | Challenger Driver, Challenger Co-driver | P | 
| 34 |  Fabrizio Zaldivar |  Marcelo Der Ohannesian |  Hyundai Motorsport N | Hyundai i20 N Rally2 | Challenger Driver, Challenger Co-driver, Team | P | 
| 35 |  Alejandro Cachón |  Alejandro López |  Alejandro Cachón | Citroën C3 Rally2 | Challenger Driver, Challenger Co-driver | P | 
| 36 |  Nicolas Ciamin |  Yannick Roche |  Nicolas Ciamin | Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 | Challenger Driver, Challenger Co-driver | P | 
| 37 |  Roope Korhonen |  Anssi Viinikka |  Roope Korhonen | Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo | Challenger Driver, Challenger Co-driver | P | 
| 38 |  Jan Skála |  Jiří Skořepa |  Jan Skála | Hyundai i20 N Rally2 | Challenger Driver, Challenger Co-driver | P | 
| 39 |  Simon Wagner |  Gerald Winter |  Simon Wagner | Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 | Challenger Driver, Challenger Co-driver | P | 
| 40 |  Matteo Gamba |  Nicolò Gonella |  Matteo Gamba | Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 | Challenger Driver, Challenger Co-driver | P | 
| 41 |  Adam Březík |  Ondřej Krajča |  Adam Březík | Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo | Challenger Driver, Challenger Co-driver | P | 
| 44 |  Štěpán Vojtěch |  Michal Ernst |  Štěpán Vojtěch | Škoda Fabia R5 | Challenger Driver, Challenger Co-driver | P | 
| 45 |  Albert von Thurn und Taxis |  Jara Hain |  Albert von Thurn und Taxis | Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 | Challenger Driver, Challenger Co-driver | P | 
| 46 |  Martin Roßgatterer |  Jürgen Heigl |  Martin Roßgatterer | Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo | Challenger Driver, Challenger Co-driver | P | 
| 47 |  Michal Horák |  Ivan Horák |  Michal Horák | Škoda Fabia R5 | Challenger Driver, Challenger Co-driver | P | 
| 48 |  Armin Kremer |  Ella Kremer |  Armin Kremer | Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 | Challenger/Masters Driver, Challenger Co-driver | P | 
| 49 |  Johannes Keferböck |  Ilka Minor |  Johannes Keferböck | Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 | Challenger/Masters Driver, Challenger Co-driver | P | 
| 50 |  Osamu Fukunaga |  Misako Saida |  Osamu Fukunaga | Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 | Challenger/Masters Driver, Challenger Co-driver | P | 
| 51 |  Eamonn Boland |  Michael Joseph Morrissey |  Eamonn Boland | Citroën C3 Rally2 | Challenger/Masters Driver, Challenger/Masters Co-driver | P | 
| 52 |  Miguel Díaz-Aboitiz |  Rodrigo Sanjuan de Eusebio |  Miguel Díaz-Aboitiz | Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 | Challenger/Masters Driver, Challenger Co-driver | P | 
| 53 |  Filippo Marchino |  Pietro Ometto |  Filippo Marchino | Škoda Fabia R5 | Challenger Driver, Challenger Co-driver | P | 
| 54 |  Henk Vossen |  Radboud van Hoek |  Henk Vossen | Ford Fiesta Rally2 | Challenger/Masters Driver, Challenger/Masters Co-driver | P | 
Route
The route was initially revealed in July 2023.[9] The first leg would be competed in the Czech Republic, while the second and third leg would be run across Austria and Germany.[10]
Itinerary
All dates and times are CEST (UTC+2) from 25 to 28 October 2023 and CET (UTC+1) on 29 October 2023.
| Date | No. | Time span | Stage name | Distance | 
| 25 October | — | After 16:01 |  Tittling [Shakedown] | 3.38 km | 
| 26 October |   | After 13:00 |  Opening ceremony, Hradčany Square | — | 
| SS1 | After 14:05 |  Velká Chuchle | 2.37 km | 
| SS2 | After 18:05 |  Klatovy | 8.92 km | 
|   | 20:45 – 21:33 |  Flexi service A, Passau | — | 
| 27 October |   | 7:00 – 7:10 |  Service B, Passau | — | 
| SS3 | After 9:50 |  Vlachovo Březí 1 | 13.66 km | 
| SS4 | After 10:42 |  Zvotoky 1 | 23.81 km | 
| SS5 | After 12:15 |  Šumavské Hoštice 1 | 23.43 km | 
|   | 13:52 – 14:07 |  Tyre fitting zone, Prachatice | — | 
| SS6 | After 14:32 |  Vlachovo Březí 2 | 13.66 km | 
| SS7 | After 15:24 |  Zvotoky 2 | 23.81 km | 
| SS8 | After 16:57 |  Šumavské Hoštice 2 | 23.43 km | 
|   | 19:22 – 20:10 |  Flexi service C, Passau | — | 
| 28 October |   | 7:00 – 7:16 |  Service D, Passau | — | 
| SS9 | After 8:15 |  Schärdinger Innviertel 1 | 16.02 km | 
| SS10 | After 10:01 |  Mühltal 1 | 27.83 km | 
| SS11 | After 11:05 |  Knaus Tabbert Bayerischer Wald 1 | 11.88 km | 
|   | 13:45 – 14:16 |  Service E, Passau | — | 
| SS12 | After 15:15 |  Schärdinger Innviertel 2 | 16.02 km | 
| SS13 | After 17:01 |  Mühltal 2 | 27.83 km | 
| SS14 | After 18:05 |  Knaus Tabbert Bayerischer Wald 2 | 11.88 km | 
|   | 19:35 – 19:23 |  Flexi service F, Passau | — | 
| 29 October |   | 6:30 – 6:46 |  Service G, Passau | — | 
| SS15 | After 8:15 |  Böhmerwald 1 | 17.25 km | 
|   | After 8:33 |  Regroup, Ulrichsberg | — | 
| SS16 | After 9:35 |  Passauer Land 1 | 16.37 km | 
| SS17 | After 10:33 |  Böhmerwald 2 | 17.25 km | 
|   | After 11:01 |  Regroup, Ulrichsberg | — | 
| SS18 | After 12:15 |  Passauer Land 2 [Power Stage] | 16.37 km | 
|   | After 14:30 |  Official finish, Passau | — | 
| Source:[1] | 
Report
WRC Rally1
Classification
Special stages
Championship standings
- Bold text indicates 2023 World Champions.
WRC-2 Rally2
Classification
Special stages
Championship standings
- Bold text indicates 2023 World Champions.
WRC-3 Rally3
Classification
| Position |  | Driver | Co-driver | Entrant | Car | Time |  | Points | 
| Event | Class | 
| 24 | 1 | 55 | Filip Kohn | Tom Woodburn | Filip Kohn | Ford Fiesta Rally3 | 3:23:04.4 | 0.0 | 25 | 
| 51 | 2 | 56 | Fabio Schwarz | Bernhard Ettel | Fabio Schwarz | Ford Fiesta Rally3 | 4:24:35.4 | +1:01:31.0 | 18 | 
| 53 | 3 | 57 | Martin Ravenščak | Dora Ravenščak | Martin Ravenščak | Ford Fiesta Rally3 | 5:15:43.8 | +1:52:39.4 | 15 | 
Special stages
Championship standings
- Bold text indicates 2023 World Champions.
|  |  | Drivers' championships |  | Co-drivers' championships | 
| Move | Driver | Points | Move | Co-driver | Points | 
| 1 |   | Roope Korhonen | 100 |   | Anssi Viinikka | 100 | 
| 2 |   | Diego Dominguez Jr. | 87 |   | Rogelio Peñate | 87 | 
| 3 |   | Tom Rensonnet | 55 |   | Loïc Dumont | 55 | 
| 4 |  10 | Filip Kohn | 52 |   | Liam Regan | 51 | 
| 5 |  1 | William Creighton | 51 |   | Conor Mohan | 49 | 
Notes
- ^ Nikolay Gryazin is Russian, but he competes as a neutral competitor using the ANA flag as Russian national emblems were banned by the association due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[8]
- ^ Konstantin Aleksandrov is Russian, but he competes as a neutral competitor using the ANA flag as Russian national emblems were banned by the association due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[8]
 
References
External links
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| | Categories within the World Rally Championship | 
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| | Teams and drivers that are eligible to score manufacturer points | 
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