Golden Stage Rally to return in 2011

The ground-breaking Love Cyprus Golden Stage Rally, which took place to great acclaim for the first time in 2010, will run again on Sunday 6 November, Eurosport Events and the Cyprus Automobile Association are delighted to confirm.

Rather than covering a multiple number of stages, the Golden Stage Rally is unique in that it features one single stage, the Golden Stage, run twice on a mixed surface route shown live on television around the world.

The quick-fire format will thrill fans as drivers battle against the clock for a share of the 150,000 Euros prize fund.

Promoted by Eurosport Events and organised by the CAA, the competition will take place the day after the 2011 Intercontinental Rally Challenge season concludes in Cyprus.

Francois Ribeiro, the Motorsport Business Director of Eurosport, said: “The inaugural Golden Stage Rally proved such a success that we can’t wait for it to run again this season. We are building on the event’s success with a new route that will come alive as drivers push to the limit in pursuit of the big prize live on television.”

Antonis Michaelides, President of the CAA, said: “Last year we broke new ground with the first ever Golden Stage Rally and created a whole new rallying experience that proved a major hit with drivers and fans alike. This year we’re set to recreate the excitement, delivering a thrill ride that will entertain motorsport fans across the world. I’m confident that the drivers will put on a terrific show once again as they ‘go for gold!’”

Extensive live television coverage

As in 2010, the Love Cyprus Golden Stage Rally will benefit from an extensive live television production managed by Eurosport Events, which has successfully pioneered live coverage of several rounds of the IRC. Eurosport Events is responsible for the distribution of the worldwide media rights (including television rights).

The Love Cyprus Golden Stage Rally will be broadcast in its entirety through Eurosport’s network, reaching more than 117 million homes across 59 countries and through Eurosport Asia-Pacific on Sunday 6 November as follows:

11:00hrs-12:00hrs: Live Eurosport Golden Stage Run 1 (20kms)
14:00hrs-15:00hrs: Live Eurosport Golden Stage Run 2 (20kms)

All-new route for Golden Stage

This year’s Golden Stage Rally will use an all-new mixed-surface route based around the village of Polis, 40 kilometres from Pafos in the west of Cyprus with spectacular views of the Mediterranean Sea. Leading international co-driver Denis Giraudet played a key role in designing the stage.

“The challenge was to improve the route used last year and this has been achieved with something that will be quite incredible,” said Jean-Pierre Nicolas, the IRC’s Motorsport Development Manager.