Impressive entry for Golden Stage Rally

More than 20 crews will contest the second running of the all-action Cyprus Golden Stage Rally, which takes place over a single mixed-surface stage, the Golden Stage, on Sunday November 6.

Jan Kopecký heads the entry in his ŠKODA Motorsport Fabia Super 2000 with team-mate Juho Hänninen also set to take part in his similar car.

Thierry Neuville elected not to restart on the final day of the Cyprus Rally following his opening-day exit in order for his mechanics to carry out meticulous repairs on his Team Peugeot Belgium-Luxembourg 207 Super 2000.

Estonian teenager Karl Kruuda is the youngest driver in the field and is set to impress as will his JM Racing team-mate Patrik Sandell, who pilots a similar Fabia S2000 and is on a high following his third-place finish on the Cyprus Rally.

Doros Loucaides will head the Cypriot challenge in his Petrolina-backed 207 with Charalambos Timotheou set to challenge for the Group N award in his Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX.

IRC 2WD Cup champion Jean-Michel Raoux will lead the charge for two-wheel-drive honours in his Renault Clio R3.

Two drivers who won’t be in action on the thrilling 19.43-kilometre stage are Nasser Al-Attiyah and last year’s winner Andreas Mikkelsen.

Al-Attiyah had been due to take part in his M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000. However, with no spare engine to replace the unit that failed during the final day of the Cyprus Rally on Saturday, the Qatari has been forced to withdraw.

Mikkelsen, who won the Cyprus Rally to clinch the Intercontinental Rally Challenge title, explained why he would be a reluctant observer tomorrow.

“This year the whole team has been working really hard, especially the mechanics,” said the Norwegian. “For them now to try to get the car ready for tomorrow and work six hours is too much to ask. I think now we should enjoy our win, have a good dinner and basically celebrate our victory. That’s what we’re going to do.”

Both runs of the Cyprus Golden Stage Rally will be shown live on Eurosport. A prize fund of 150,000 Euros is up for grabs.