The 33rd Cyprus Rally takes place this coming weekend - the sixth round out of sixteen in the 2005
FIA World Rally Championship.
Cyprus will also play host to the third round in the 2005 FIA Production Car WRC.
Beginning on Thursday 12 May with a ceremonial start in the host town of Limassol, the gruelling three-day event will be the first of a trio of Mediterranean hot, gravel rallies scheduled for May and June.
Special notes:
As the slowest, hottest and roughest event of the year, the Cyprus Rally is an endurance test for cars, tyres and drivers alike.
Based largely on rock-strewn tracks high in the Troodos Mountains, the event's stages are among the narrowest and twistiest in the championship. Rocky hairpin bends, thick dust and rutted roads combine to make driving conditions difficult, while scorching temperatures of more than 30°C test drivers' stamina and physical fitness.
The twisty conditions mean cars are expected to record average speeds of just 66kph, barely half those recorded on smooth gravel events like Rally Finland. Low speeds mean reduced airflow to cool the engine and transmission, while suspension and tyres will take a hammering on the rocky roads.
This year the event will run from a single service park located to the north of Limassol.
The rally will begin on Friday when crews travel 55km to the start of the longest test of the event, the 38.32kms stage from Lagoudera. The rally route is unchanged from 2004 and each of the three legs comprises six stages - a group of three repeated - and a total competitive distance of 326.68 kilometres.
The winning car is expected to cross the finish ramp in Limassol at 1517hrs on Sunday May 15.
FIA World Rally Championship news:
Sebastien Loeb leads the World Rally drivers' championship following his win in Sardinia. The Frenchman is one point ahead of
Petter Solberg and 7 points up on
Markko Martin, who lies third.
In the constructors' championship meanwhile, Peugeot lead, 11 points up on
Citroen.
