Central Europe: The WRC arrives in the Czech Republic

The starting podium in Prague was one of the highlights of the demanding division imagined for this rally of Central Europe 2023. The organizers were lucky, because it was under the sun and in front of a large crowd, but perhaps not as large as expected, that the players set off on Thursday in the middle of the day. The success of this event rewarded the three-hour drive required from Passau where the teams are based. If the majority of the audience was made up of real rally fans who had come to try to catch a glimpse of their heroes and get an autograph, the rest of the audience were onlookers attracted by the noise of the cars. It must be said that during this school holiday period, the city was overflowing with tourists. Perhaps some of them will have contracted the virus from WRC ?

Petr Pavel the President of the Republic (with white hair) came to attend the departure ceremony (Photo: Loïc Rocci)

In order to successfully enter the World Cup calendar, the Czechs pulled out all the stops by privatizing part of the courtyard of the Pražský hrad, the Prague Castle where the President of the Republic sits. Petr Pavel also left his offices to come greet the crews and pose for photos. In doing so, he demonstrated his country's support for the sport. Several sets of drivers succeeded one another on the podium, including one bringing together Ott Tänak, Kalle Rovanperä, Thierry Neuville et Sébastien Ogier. Unsurprisingly, it was Erik Cais, the local of the stage, who had the most success. After the traditional group photo, the cars set off one after the other towards the first special stage.

The Czech Republic is not going to be satisfied with this departure ceremony. 8 special stages (including two on Thursday) will take place in this country for 133,27 km timed.

Who from Sébastien Ogier, Ott Tänak, Thierry Neuville or Kalle Rovanperä will be the first winner of the CER? (Photo: Loïc Rocci)