The 2023 Central European Rally was a motor racing event for rally cars which was held from 26 to 29 October 2023. It marked the first running of the Central European Rally, and was be the twelfth round of the 2023 World Rally Championship, World Rally Championship-2 and World Rally Championship-3. The event was based in Passau, Bavaria, Germany, and was contested over eighteen special stages covering a total competitive distance of 311.79 km (193.74 mi).

The 2023 FIA World Rally Championship was the fifty-first season of the competition organised by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) as the highest class of international rallying. Teams and crews competed for the World Rally Championships for Drivers, Co-drivers and Manufacturers. Crews were free to compete in cars complying with Groups Rally1 to Rally5 regulations; however, only manufacturers competing with Rally1 cars homologated were eligible to score points in the manufacturers' championship. The championship began in January 2023 with the Monte Carlo Rally and concluded in November 2023 with the Rally Japan. The series was supported by the World Rally Championship-2 and World Rally Championship-3 categories at every round of the championship and by the Junior World Rally Championship at selected events.