The organisers of the Cyprus Rally have confirmed that major changes have been made to this year's event, as the country prepares to re-gain a slot on the FIA World Rally Championship calendar in 2008.
The candidate event, which will count as a round of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship - the second time this year Cyprus has held a round of the MERC, having staged the Troodos Rally in April - will take place in the autumn, running from October 12-14. It is expected to be observed by the FIA.
Cyprus is competing with Poland to gain the final slot on next season's schedule, after South Africa pulled out of the running. Poland held its candidate event back in June.
The organisers have apparently 're-assessed and re-examined every aspect of the event, to craft an all-new, reinvigorated event, built on the strengths of what came before, which will be an exhilarating, unforgettable experience for teams and fans alike'.
“Several new stages are being introduced, while those classic stages which are being re-used are in great shape, thanks to last year's surface re-grading and regular maintenance. Plus, a number of stages will be used just once during the course of the rally,” explained a statement to the media.
“Following requests from the teams, 2007 will also see the return of the popular 'Seafront Service Park' on Limassol promenade. A new Rally Headquarters is also being set up.
“It should be stressed that the revamped Cyprus Rally has actually been crafted as a three-day event, ready for its return to the WRC, but for 2007 an abbreviated event will be run, in keeping with the two-day nature of MERC rallies.”
"The Cyprus Rally is always a lot of fun, with an upbeat and friendly atmosphere, both in the Service Park, between the teams, and among the fans,” said Cyprus Rally press officer, Chris Christodoulou. “Statistics prove that the Cyprus Rally is a favourite with fans all over the world.
“In 2006, we were second behind only Greece for the number of WRC broadcasts, with a cumulative audience of over 54 million people and a total of 327 hours of coverage - placing the Cyprus Rally third among the 16 rounds in the 2006 calendar! With the changes in place for this year's event, I'm sure the 2007 Cyprus Rally will be an exciting and unforgettable experience for all."
The event will also form part of the FIA Historic Rally Championship, in addition to being the sixth round in the FIA MERC.
"We're really looking forward to October,” added clerk of the course, Takis Kyriakides. “Hosting three FIA events in one year is a great honour for Cyprus. After the success of the Troodos Rally back in April, we're confident that the 2007 Cyprus Rally and Historic Cyprus Rally will be a great experience for drivers and fans alike.
“With mid-October dates, we expect mild temperatures – which, means ideal conditions for competitors to do battle against the backdrop of the island's beautiful countryside."
