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Central European Rally 2023 counts for:
2023 FIA World Rally Championship for Drivers/Co-drivers
2023 FIA World Rally Championship for Manufacturers
2023 FIA World Rally Championship 2 (for Teams and Drivers/Co-drivers)
2023 FIA World Rally Championship 3 (for Drivers/Co-drivers)
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| 640th WRC rally |
| Round of season: | 12 of 13 |
| Official name: | Central European Rally |
| Edition: | 1st |
| Date: | from Thursday 26-Oct-2023 to Sunday 29-Oct-2023 |
| Rally HQ: | Passau, Bavaria; Germany |
| Clerk of the Course: | Andreas Dinzinger |
| Surface: | Tarmac |
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| Entries: | 68 | |
| Starters: | 67 | |
| Finishers: | 54 | (80.6% of starters) |
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| Stages: | 18 | |
| Shortest: | 2.55 | km | (SS1 SSS Velka Chuchle) |
| Longest: | 27.15 | km | (SS13 Muhltal 2) |
| Slowest: | 82.55 | km/h | (SS1 SSS Velka Chuchle) |
| Fastest: | 126.45 | km/h | (SS17 Bohmerwald 2) |
| Planned stage distance: | 310.01 | km | (18.3% of total distance) |
| Actual stage distance: | 310.01 | km | (18.3% of total distance) |
| Road section distance: | 1,380.66 | km |
| Total distance: | 1,690.67 | km |
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| DRIVERS - PODIUM FINISHERS |
| | Win was 19th win and 63rd podium for Thierry Neuville. |
| Second place was 20th podium for Kalle Rovanpera. |
| Third place was 46th podium for Ott Tanak. |
| MAKES - PODIUM FINISHERS |
| | Win was 27th win and 115th podium for Hyundai. |
| | Second place was 240th podium for Toyota. |
| | Third place was 374th podium for Ford. |
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Although Neuville led initially, won eventually and posted lots of stage winning times, a real fight between him and Rovanpera failed to materialize. Finn allowed Neuville to claim lead as he decided to back off following Evans' accident. Hyundai had lost Lappi in an yet another accident and more reliable but slower Suninen couldn't fight Katsuta so Thierry's win was good consolation..
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For once, Rovanpera benefited from running first on the road. In wet conditions, this offered him a chance to enjoy clean tarmac and he took the lead when rally moved to proper stages after two opening SSS. He went straight on one braking but escaped unharmed. After team-mate Evans retired, he slowed down to make sure to finish and claim his second drivers' title.
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Tanak inherited final podium position following Evans' retirement and Ogier's charge behind him never brought part-timer close enough to be a serious threat.
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Related links
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Rally Chile 2023
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Rally Japan 2023
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