It’s time for the greatest motorsport show on the island
20/09/2019
44 crews from 20 different countries on the entry list
Elite rally crews from Europe, the Middle-East and Cyprus are gearing up for the 47th Cyprus Rally, which is set to start next Friday. Our rally hosted, once again, in September, alongside the returns of mountainous and semi mountainous special stages carry with them memories of older Cyprus Rallies. All of the above ingredients, alongside the most diverse and rich entry lists in the rally’s European presence, will coalesce to produce three days of spectacular rallying action between the 27th and 29th of September.
In the Press Conference, held today, Thursday 19th of September at the Journalists House ikn Nicosia, the organizing committee presented all the details of the event. Much like last year, and the years before that, our rally remains the only event to host two regional championships of the FIA. The Start and Finish ceremonies will still be held on the beautiful beachfront of Foinikoudes in Larnaca, with Rally Headquarters, Press Office and Service Park returning to Nicosia.
The speech of the President of the Cyprus Automobile Association (CAA), Mr. Antonis Michaelides, focused on three important issues related to this year's race. Firstly, the Cyprus Rally Cyprus is changing its form with the inclusion of mountainous stages, but also in how important the FIA considers our rally. Senior officials such as the FIA Deputy President, Graham Stoker, is visiting the Cyprus Rally this year, where he is to meet with the Deputy Minister of Tourism to express his desire to further strengthen the Cyprus Automobile Association's relations with the FIA but also to cultivate relations between the Ministry of Tourism and Eurosport so that the Cyprus Rally’s presence on the ERC calendar remains a certainty for the three years.
The third issue analysed by Mr. Michaelides was on the financial side of the Cyprus Rally, expressing his dissatisfaction with the government's decision to reduce its annual sponsorship from 605 to 500 thousand euros. Among other things he emphasized: “Based on the financial data of the last four to five years, the costs of organizing the Cyprus Rally amounted to 750 to 770 thousand euros and the state sponsorship stood at 605 thousand euros only. That is to say, there is a constant deficit of over €150,000 per year that our Association has been working hard to cover through third party sponsorships. This endeavour proved to be frustratingly inadequate and resulted in a deficit of €250,000 for the CAA. It is clearly evident that the CAA will no longer be able to organize the rally in the years to come, with the exclusion of our country from international calendars and possibly also cancelling FIA representation by our Association, are a real possibility. There is an urgent need to reconsider the decision of the Ministry Council so that the sponsorship for the coming years will amount to, at least, 750 thousand euros which have proven to be the minimum for our needs.”
Mr. Michaelides also mentioned the Acropolis Rally, one of the most historic and renowned rallies in the world that has now passed into obscurity following the state’s neglect towards its needs in order to host international competitions at top level.
Next to speak was Clerk of the Course, Ms. Naya Kontopoulou, who referred to the organization and the route as well as the large, in numbers and talent, entry list. Specifically,
Ms. Kontopoulou emphasized, "The entry list is distinguished by its diversity as the 44 crews on board come from a total of 20 countries. Something which highlights the magnitude of the exposer that Cyprus and its rally, enjoy around the world.”
All eyes are definitely firmly on the first three entries from the ERC, Chris Ingram, Alexey Lukyanuk and Lukasz Habaj, who will go head-to-head for this year's title, with the first two drivers split by just one point! With them, of course, will also be the multi-winner of the Cyprus Rally, Nasser Al Attiyah who is also claiming points in the Middle East Championship. A championship he wants to win for the 14th time, equalling the great Mohammed Bin Sulayem's record. Along with Nasser, four more crews from the Middle East will be running. The big surprise of the entry list is none other than Mikko Hirvonen. The former Subaru and Ford driver in the World Rally Championship returns to Cyprus ten years after his last podium here when he came in second behind Sebastien Loeb. Hirvonen, who will be driving a Ford Fiesta R5, knows our island pretty well, having driven six times, climbing up on the podium twice. The Finnish veteran had this to say: “I love the challenge of having to drive strategically and not just fast. Cyprus is an ideal destination this time of year, for a demanding and well-organised event.”
A total of 21 crews will run with the colours of Cyprus, eight of which will claim points in the European Championship. Amidst the Cypriot crews is last year's winners Simo Galatariotis and Antonis Ioannou with their Skoda Fabia R5. Competing with cars from the R5 category will be both Yiangou / Kyriakou and Psaltis / Chrysostomou. At the same time, we will have high-level battles for European honours in the ERC2 and ERC3 categories, where a total of twelve crews will run, from Cyprus, the Middle East and the rest of Europe.
The 2019 Cyprus Rally proceedings will begin with the qualifying special stage on Friday, September 27th, after which the fastest crews will pick their start numbers. This procedure will be determined by a 3.60 kilometre Qualifying Special Stage in the Geri area, just outside of Nicosia, after which the fastest crews will pick their starting position for the event. After the Number Selection, the Press Conference will be held, involving the top three drivers and the top local crew. On the afternoon of the same day, at 19:00, the action moves to the beachfront at Foinikoudes in Larnaca, for the Ceremonial Start.
The action proper in the Cyprus Rally starts on Saturday, 28th of September, at 09:00 in the morning and will include six special stages (two of which will be repeated in each loop) with a total length of 94.14km. The last special stage of the day is none other than the Super Special Stage. A Special Stage that has now become a staple for the Cyprus Rally, taking place on the streets of Nicosia, uniting our divided capital even if only for a while. After an overnight stay in Nicosia, crews will start Sunday for the second and final leg of the rally, which includes six special stages (three stages which will be repeated in the afternoon). Upon completion, the crews will head to the Ceremonial Finish, which will also take on the beachfront of Foinikoudes in Larnaca.
Both, Mrs. Kontopoulou and Mr Michaelidis, voiced their warm gratitude for both the sponsors and supporters of this year's event and the organizing team, which consists of volunteers, without whom the rally would not be possible.
Gold Sponsors such as the Ministry of Tourism, Psaltis Auto Parts Company, the exclusive distributor of ENNEOS Motor Oil lubricants in Cyprus, Cablenet which is making its debut this year as the telecommunications provider of the rally. Thanks were also given to our Sponsors, Cavaway Ltd, Jeep, Sparco, Thomason, Sigan and GEPA. With us are also companies that support our national race in many ways, such as CLICK FM, NBF Graphic Solutions, Prodata, A2V, UMAMI, OM Destination Management, Salamis Shipping Services, Forviotissa, Astra Car Rental, Chateau Status and the Ari Spilon/Kourdala Athletic Club.
Special thanks to the Municipalities of Nicosia, Larnaca and Aglantzia for the hospitality and, of course, the Cyprus Police for their timely help and support towards the rally.
