SS3: Neuville snatches lead in Cyprus

Thierry Neuville has snatched the lead of the Cyprus Rally by winning stage three, the 18.16-kilometre Salamiou test.

Driving a Team Peugeot Belgium-Luxembourg 207 Super 2000, Neuville was 11.2s faster than last year’s Cyprus winner Nasser Al-Attiyah in an M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000. As a result he leads overall by 8.8s.

IRC title leader Jan Kopecký, in a ŠKODA Motorsport Fabia S2000, was third fastest with former pacesetter Andreas Mikkelsen fourth quickest after suffering a spin in his ŠKODA UK Fabia.

“We lost eight to 10 seconds,” said Mikkelsen, who slips to second overall. “I was coming into a loose section and lost the rear. It was my fault but we have to push to stay in front.”

Neuville said he relished the predominantly asphalt-based stage: “I prefer asphalt and I pushed very hard, to the maximum.”

Crews are now heading back to Pafos for a regroup and service halt. Stage four, the second Koilinia test, gets underway at 14:47hrs.