-
Over 70 teams will compete from 26 to 29 October
-
World rally elite, strong WRC2 field and local heroes will be on the grid
-
Match point: Toyota driver Kalle Rovanperä could secure the title ahead of schedule
The fans have been waiting for this for a long time, but now the time has come: The entry list for the Central European Rally 2023 is finally official. It shows 68 teams, which will be joined by the teams from the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup, so that considerably more than 70 rally cars will be racing across the Special Stages. Of course, the title fight will be the focus of interest on the stages in Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic, because the world champion could already be crowned at the premiere of the new event. WRC leader Kalle Rovanperä (Toyota) has all the aces in his hand, as he leads by 217 points before this penultimate round of the season, ahead of brand colleague Elfy Evans and Thierry Neuville in the Hyundai. However, the WRc2 category, which promises a hot dance with more than 30 entries, will also be exciting. Strong national teams also want to give the WRC teams a close fight for the best times on the 18 special stages on home terrain. In short: Everything that is necessary for an exciting rally weekend comes together here. The list is now available online on the official homepage at www.centraleuropeanrally.eu.
Besides the Finnish WRC leader, several others are vying for victory at the premiere of the Central European Rally in the WRC calendar. Team-mate Elfyn Evans, for example: "The fact that we won the last asphalt round in Croatia shows that we have to be on the cards," says the Briton. "I hope the conditions and the tracks will be similar." However, like all the other WRC drivers, he is entering uncharted territory. "To be honest, I have no idea what to expect," says Evans. And it won't just be him and his Rally1 colleagues who will be feeling the same way; most of the WRC2 drivers probably have no idea (yet) about the selective asphalt stages in the heart of Europe. Maybe an advantage for the drivers from Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic? There are quite a few of them on the entry list: Enough material, then, to pass the time until the Central European Rally with technical discussions about chances and favourites!
