Nasser Al-Attiyah (Qatar), with Mathieu Baumel (Andorra) as his co-driver and a Volkswagen Polo GTi R5 car, triumphed in the 50th anniversary Cyprus Rally which was held on the weekend of 6-8 October 2023, organised by the Cyprus Automobile Association. Al-Rawahi came second and Christos Demosthenous, came third and first Cypriot.
According to a press release from the organisers, the Qatari covered the 194.88 kilometres of the twelve special stages of the two-day event in a time of 3 hours, 3 minutes and 38 seconds, finishing top in the general classification, 3 minutes and 21 seconds faster than Abdullah Al-Rawahi / Ata Al-Hmoud with a Skoda Fabia R5, who claimed 2nd place, improving on their 3rd place in 2021.
It is noted that the award ceremony took place on Sunday evening at the old Nicosia city hall in 'Eleftheria' square, with the ambassador of Qatar to the Republic of Cyprus, HE Ali Yousef Al-Mulla presenting the trophy to his compatriot. Municipal council of Nicosia Valerios Danielides awarded the second place trophy and Imad Lahoud, FIA MERC coordinator the third place trophy.
It is also added that Nasser Al-Attiyah recorded his 8th victory in the Cyprus Rally (2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2023) and extended his multiple winner lead of our national race. In addition, he reached ten podium appearances, since in 2007 he was 2nd and in 2008 he was 3rd. Second in wins in Cyprus Rally, with four victories (2004, 2005, 2006, 2009), is the 9-times WRC champion Sébastien Loeb.
It is mentioned that at the end of the 1st day, on Saturday (07/10), Simos Galatariotis was top in the general classification, along with co-driver Antonis Ioannou and a Volkswagen Polo GTi R5. The 2018 Cyprus Rally winner was fastest on four of Saturday's six SS's and had built a 15.2 second lead over Al-Attiyah, which also gave him the victory in rally No3 of the Cyprus Championship (each day of the Cyprus Rally counted as a different event for the local championship). But, early on Sunday, just at SS7, he was forced to retire, when he broke his radiator at the jump point on the Yeri stage.
It is also noted that Christos Demosthenous, with co-driver Kypros Christodoulou and a Skoda Fabia R5, finished in 3rd place in the general classification and top of all the Cypriot crews. With five placings in the top three of SS, the champion of Cyprus in 2015 and 2016 claimed for the second time in his career a spot on the podium of the Cyprus Rally, after the 3rd place, he took in 2020.
It is reported that of the 23 crews that started on Friday night, 16 completed the first leg and 15 completed the rally.
THE FINAL CLASSIFICATION:
1. ?. Al-Attiyah / M. Baumel Volkswagen Polo GTi R5 3:03:38.7
2. A. Al-Rawahi /A. Al-Hmoud Skoda Fabia R5 +3:21.3
3. C. Demosthenous / K. Christodoulou Skoda Fabia R5 +6:38.0
4. Y. Yiangoy / ?. Nicolaou Hyundai i20 R5 +9:01.2
5. P. Panteli / P. Laos Renault Clio +9:20.0
6. C. Panteli / ?. Aristodemou Peugeot 208 +26:27.8
7. C. Constantinou / ?. Nicolaou Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII +28:47.8
8. C. Ellinas / G. Pougioukkas Ford Fiesta +41:35.5
9. F. Stylianou / ?. Makrides Mitsubishi Mirage +42:25.3
10. S. Ypermachou / V. Ypermachou Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII +46:15.6
11. L. Papageorgiou / P. Chrysanthou Mitsubishi Mirage +53:27.7
12. M. Al-Thefiri / N. Al-Kuwari Mitsubishi Evo ? +56:10.0
13. M. Sofokleous / E. Pantelides Volkswagen Golf +1:06:53.8
14. ?. Marangos/ ?. Kareklas Mazda RX8 +1:18:45.3
15. T. Theofanous / ?. Xenofontos Peugeot 106 +1:23:44.1
THE SS RESULTS OF THE 50th CYPRUS RALLY:
SS1 (Xyliatos 1 - 8.05km)
1. ?asser Al-Attiyah 7:48.8
2. Simos Galatariotis +1.1
3. ?bdullah Al-Rawahi + 8.8
SS2 (Kapouras 1 - 19.86km)
1. ?asser Al-Attiyah 18:46.9
2. ?bdullah Al-Rawahi + 9.3
3. Simos Galatariotis + 12.5
SS3 (Kourdali 1 - 21.01km)
1. Simos Galatariotis 22:56.7
2. ?asser Al-Attiyah + 7.6
3. ?bdullah Al-Rawahi + 13.0
SS4 (Xyliatos 2 - 8.05km)
1. Simos Galatariotis 7:40.5
2. ?asser Al-Attiyah + 4.1
3. Christos Demosthenous + 13.7
SS5 (Kapouras 2 - 19.86km)
1. Simos Galatariotis 18:16.4
2. ?asser Al-Attiyah + 7.7
3. ?bdullah Al-Rawahi + 24.8
SS6 (Kourdali 2 - 21.01km)
1. Simos Galatariotis 22:20.5
2. ?asser Al-Attiyah + 9.4
3. Christos Demosthenous + 32.0
SS7 (Yeri 1 - 14.10km)
1. ?asser Al-Attiyah 7:21.3
2. ?bdullah Al-Rawahi + 8.2
3. Christos Zenonos + 25.5
SS8 (Lefkara 1 - 19.78km)
1. ?bdullah Al-Rawahi 19:43.2
2. ?asser Al-Attiyah + 18.7
3. Christos Demosthenous + 45.8
SS9 (Agios Epifanios 1 - 14.88km)
1. ?bdullah Al-Rawahi 15:27.0
2. ?asser Al-Attiyah + 5.1
3. Christos Demosthenous + 22.3
SS10 (Yeri 2 - 14.10km)
1. ?bdullah Al-Rawahi 7:24.2
2. ?asser Al-Attiyah + 1.9
3. Panayiotis Yiangou + 30.0
SS11 (Lefkara 2 - 19.78km)
1. ?asser Al-Attiyah 19:37.3
2. ?bdullah Al-Rawahi + 0.4
3. Christos Demosthenous + 37.9
SS12 (Agios Epifanios 2 - 14.88km)
1. ?bdullah Al-Rawahi 15:07.9
2. ?asser Al-Attiyah + 13.5
3. Panayiotis Yiangou + 33.5
For further information, interested parties are invited to visit the following website: www.cyprusrally.com.cy.
Source: Cyprus News Agency