The Central European Rally proved to be an electrifying event in the WRC3 category, with Mattéo Chatillon emerging victorious, earning his first-ever WRC3 win after a weekend filled with ups and downs for many competitors. The Frenchman’s consistency behind the wheel of a Renault Clio Rally3 paid off handsomely, fending off challengers and navigating through the unpredictable nature of rally stages that spanned the Czech Republic, Austria, and Germany.
Friday: Seizing the lead amid chaos
The rally began with local favourite Jan Černy setting the early pace, leading after Thursday’s opener. However, his fortune took a nosedive on Friday when a brake caliper on his Ford Fiesta Rally3 failed mid-stage, leaking fluid and forcing him to drive the remainder of the stage without brakes. The incident cost Černy almost two minutes, handing the lead to Chatillon.
Chatillon quickly capitalised on Černy’s misfortune, building a lead of more than 30 seconds by the end of Friday. Czech driver Filip Kohn, the reigning FIA ERC3 champion, briefly threatened Chatillon’s position by winning a stage and moving within 0.6 seconds of the leader. However, a costly overshoot on the day’s final stage saw Kohn drop 35.1 seconds behind Chatillon. Meanwhile, Poland’s Hubert Laskowski made steady progress, climbing from fifth to third by the end of the day, while German newcomer Hermann Gaßner slipped to fifth after initially holding a podium position.
With Černy struggling down in sixth and Gaßner losing time, Chatillon wrapped up the opening leg with a comfortable lead, positioning himself as the clear favourite heading into the weekend stages.
Saturday: Chatillon extends his advantage
Saturday’s stages saw Chatillon maintain his composure and gradually extend his advantage. He delivered consistent top-three stage times across all six runs, growing his lead to over a minute by day’s end. “It’s about staying clean and smart today,” Chatillon remarked at the service park. “This rally is all about managing risk and making it to the end.”
Behind him, the battle for second place intensified. Filip Kohn, enjoying a prize drive in his Fiesta Rally3 after winning the European Fiesta Rally Trophy, clung to second but remained just 14.6 seconds ahead of Laskowski. Gaßner, flying the German flag on home stages, stayed within striking distance, just 8.5 seconds behind Laskowski in fourth.
Meanwhile, Černy’s woes continued. After Friday’s brake failure, he suffered another setback on Saturday, incurring a penalty of 1 minute and 4 seconds for failing to slow down at a virtual chicane. Despite setting three fastest times on the day, the penalty left him stuck in fifth, almost a minute behind Gaßner, with little hope of clawing his way back into podium contention.
Sunday: A risk-free drive to victory
With a 1-minute, 5-second cushion entering the final four stages on Sunday, Chatillon took a measured approach. “We didn’t need to push—we just needed to get the car home,” the Frenchman explained after the final stage. Although the gap to Kohn narrowed slightly to 56.0 seconds, Chatillon’s lead was never under threat, and he cruised to the finish to secure his maiden WRC3 victory.
Kohn comfortably held onto second place, unable to repeat his win from last year’s event but still delivering an impressive performance. His rival, Gaßner, made a late surge to claim the final podium spot, overtaking Laskowski on the opening stage of the day with a blistering run 15.2 seconds faster than the Polish driver. Laskowski had to settle for fourth, while Černy’s luck failed to improve. The Czech driver dropped behind Tristan Charpentier during the day’s stages, ultimately finishing in sixth, capping off a frustrating rally plagued by mechanical issues and penalties.
Chatillon’s win at the Central European Rally was a testament to consistency and precision. “This feels incredible,” Chatillon said at the finish. “The key was to stay calm and trust the team and the car.” His maiden WRC3 victory adds a new chapter to his promising career, with the Frenchman emerging as a driver to watch in the future.
The Central European Rally showcased the unpredictability and excitement that define rallying, with fortunes shifting dramatically across the stages. From Černy’s heartbreak to Gaßner’s impressive debut and Kohn’s solid performance, the event delivered thrilling moments at every turn. However, the weekend belonged to Mattéo Chatillon, who now stands atop the WRC3 podium, ready to build on this milestone triumph in the rallies to come.
Final Results
01: M. Chatillon/M. Cornuau (Renault Clio Rally3) – 2h 58m 43.2s
02: F. Kohn/R. Whittock (Ford Fiesta Rally3) + 56.0s
03: Herman Gassner Jr/M. Wenzel (Renault Clio Rally3) + 1m 02.4s
04: H. Laskowski/M. Kusnierz (Ford Fiesta Rally3) + 1m 12.4s
05: M. Fontana/A. Arnaboldi (Ford Fiesta Rally3) + 1m 39.8s
06: T. Charpentier/C. Silvestre (Ford Fiesta Rally3) + 2m 08.s
07: J. Cerny/O. Krajca (Ford Fiesta Rally3) + 2m 11.3s
08: M. Vidueira/J. Rey (Ford Fiesta Rally3) + 15m 31.3s
09: C. Schonborn/J. Hain (Ford Fiesta Rally3) + 31m 28.2s
10: T. Weigert/J. Weigert (Renault Clio Rally3) + 39m 10.1s