Central Europe Rally on Eurosport

April 3, 2008 - Hungary and Romania host the Central Europe Rally between 20 and 26 April, and Eurosport will broadcast daily highlights of this first "Dakar Series" event. Following the cancellation of the Dakar Rally earlier this year, the Central Europe Rally promises to be a special occasion both for motorsport fans and the rally's considerable number of competitors in the car, motorbike and truck competitions.

The rally crosses Romania on its route between Budapest and Lake Balaton in Hungary, with some 110 motorbikes, 70 cars and 37 trucks already entered. BMW, Volkswagen and Mitsubishi will be among the constructors, with the latter looking particularly strong -- last year's Dakar Rally cars winner Stephane Peterhansel and second-placed Luc Alphand will be competing for them once more.

In the motorbike rally, riders Cyril Despres (2007 Dakar Rally winner) and David Casteu (2007 runner-up) will once again battle it out for top honours, while 2007 Dakar Rally truck winner, Hans Stacey, will also be looking to cross the Lake Balaton finishing line first.