SS7: Mikkelsen edges clear in Cyprus

Andreas Mikkelsen has increased his lead of the Cyprus Rally by winning stage seven of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge qualifier.

The Norwegian ace, in his ŠKODA UK Motorsport Fabia, was fastest through the 15.91-kilometre all-asphalt Stavros stage, which crews had to tackle with gravel tyres and gravel suspension settings.

As a result, Mikkelsen now leads Nasser Al-Attiyah by 32.9s with IRC title leader Jan Kopecký falling 14.5s behind the M-Sport Ford Fiesta driver after going 7.7s slower than the Qatari through the stage in his factory ŠKODA.

Nicos Thomas remains the leading Cypriot driver in ninth overall in his Petrolina-backed Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X. However, Thomas continues to trail IRC Production Cup leader Toshi Arai in a Subaru Impreza R4 STI.

Crews are now heading to the 19.15-kilometre mixed-surface Anadiou stage