Passau/Freyung. The time schedule and the stages are set, the countdown is on for the 58th ADAC KNAUS TABBERT 3 STÄDTE RALLY. The stage is set for a borderless motorsport spectacle in three countries: Because unlike in previous years, this year from 13 to 15 October, for the first time, in addition to Lower Bavaria and Upper Austria, there will also be races in the Czech Republic. ADAC Südbayern expects around 100 teams from all over Europe as well as thousands of fans at the event, which boasts numerous national and international awards.
3 Cities - 3 Countries - 1 Vision
The "3 Städte" promises a top-level sporting event for the season finale: In addition to the best teams of the German Rally Championship (DRM), the round counts among others the Czech National Championship, the FIA European Rally Trophy, the Mitropa Rally Cup as well as the ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup with purely electrically powered Corsa’s. "3 cities - 3 countries - 1 vision: one of the most traditional events in the motorsport calendar is reinventing itself a bit in its 58th edition," emphasises Fritz Schadeck, chairman of the organising committee and board member for youth and sports at ADAC Südbayern. "Decades after the premiere in 1963, we are once again celebrating a cross-border motorsport festival with the Peace Ride from Munich via Vienna to Budapest." In view of the war in Ukraine and the new "Cold War" with Russia, the idea of peaceful coexistence is more topical than ever.
Start in Waldkirchen - finish in Breitenberg
The 58th ADAC KNAUS TABBERT 3 STÄDTE RALLY leads over 14 special stages with a total of 168.5 special stage kilometres. All legs will be used twice. The service park and the rally centre will again be on the Volksfestplatz in Waldkirchen. The start is on Friday at 14.30 hrs, on this day only the special stage in the Czech Republic will be driven. The route leads to the special stages to Šumavské Hoštice (11.30 km), Zálezly (12.65 km) and Putkov (5.30 km). On Saturday, it will start again at 7.45 a.m. for the best team of the previous day in Waldkirchen. The first special stage of the day and the seventh of the rally starts at 8.23 a.m. on the circuit in Sonnen (11,78 km). The roadbook will guide the bunch further into Austria to the special stage Peilstein (15.20 km). There will also be a special stage in Julbach (15.30 km), before the route returns to Breitenberg (12.72 km) in Bavaria. There are spectator points everywhere with signposted visitor guidance and parking. Tickets are available directly on site, they are valid for all fan zones (Friday: 10 euros, Saturday: 15 euros, complete weekend: 20 euros), children up to 14 years are free.
New stages in Sonnen and Breitenberg
The Bavarian stages in Sonnen and Breitenberg are completely new. After being held twice in a row in Freyung-Grafenau in 2019 and 2021 (2020 was a Corona break), the district of Passau is co-hosting this traditional event again for the first time since 2017 in Bad Griesbach. "The 3 Städte Rallye now makes stops in three countries that used to belong to East and West. We like this cross-border approach," emphasises Passau District Administrator Raimund Kneidinger. "That's why this must not stop at our district borders either." His Freyung-Grafenau counterpart Sebastian Gruber, on whose territory the rally centre and the start are located, adds: "The concept is convincing. We are of the opinion that despite the occasional socio-political discussions, motorsport should not be discriminated against one-sidedly and still has its justification in this day and age." In terms of sustainability, ADAC Südbayern sets standards by having unavoidable emissions caused by participants and spectators calculated by an expert and compensating the CO2 consumption with climate protection certificates.
"It's great that such a major international event is taking place in our region and that it has a supra-regional impact," emphasises Werner Vaterl, operative board member of the title partner and recreational vehicle manufacturer Knaus Tabbert AG from Jandelsbrunn. "We are convinced by the concept, in which the ADAC Südbayern as organiser also brings critics on board and gives the topic of sustainability in motorsport a broad scope."
DRM title decision probably not until the season finale
In sporting terms, things are particularly tight in the German Rally Championship: defending champion Marijan Griebel (Citroën C3 Rally2) is in first place after four wins in a row together with co-driver Tobias Braun (136 points). They are closely followed by Philip Geipel and Katrin Becker-Brugger (Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo) with 131 points and the duo Julius Tannert/Frank Christian (VW Polo GTI R5), who have collected 130 points so far. Should everything go "normally" at the ADAC Cimbern Rally this weekend and all three teams finish well ahead, each of them would still travel to the season finale in the border triangle of Bavaria, Austria and the Czech Republic with a chance of winning the title.
Timetable
Thursday, 13 October
18.00 hrs Shake Down (test and adjustment ride) in Kollerschlag
Friday, 14 October
14.30 hrs - Start at the rally centre Waldkirchen
15.41 hrs - SS Šumavské Hoštice I
16.14 hrs - SS Zálezly I
16.47 hrs - SS Putkov I
18.53 hrs - SS Šumavské Hoštice II
19.26 hrs - SS Zálezly II
19.59 hrs - SS Putkov II
Saturday, 15 October
7.45 hrs - Start at the rally centre Waldkirchen
8.23 hrs - SS Sonnen I / KNAUS TABBERT ARENA
9.06 hrs - SS Peilstein I
11.49 hrs - SS Sonnen II / KNAUS TABBERT ARENA
12.32 hrs - SS Peilstein II
14.00 hrs - SS Julbach I
14.23 hrs - SS Breitenberg I / RENT AND TRAVEL
17.03 hrs - SS Julbach II
17.26 hrs - SS Breitenberg II / RENT AND TRAVEL
18.00 hrs - Finish at the Nordic Centre Jägerbild/Breitenberg
For spectators there are special zones, the spectator points, which are equipped with catering, toilets and for the most part track announcers. The individual spectator points and all information are available online: 3-staedte-rallye.de
