Wed November 9, 2011

 3rd place for Puskadi in IRC 2WD Cup Janos Puskadi was celebrating in Cyprus this weekend after coming 4th in the final round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge and securing 3rd place in the overall standings of the 2WD Drivers' Cup....

Mon November 7, 2011

 Mikkelsen wins 2011 IRC drivers title Andreas Mikkelsen has become the 2011 Intercontinental Rally Challenge drivers’ champion, after winning the title showdown decider, the Cyprus Rally, in his factory-prepared ŠKODA UK Motorsport Fabia S2000....

Sun November 6, 2011

 Neuville stars on Golden Stage Thierry Neuville has won the second Cyprus Golden Stage Rally following a stunning performance over both runs of the spectacular mixed-surface stage shown live on Eurosport. Neuville underlined the pace and competitiveness of his Peugeot 207 Super 2000 by going fastest through...

Sat November 5, 2011

 Mikkelsen wins Dramatic Cyprus Showdown Andreas Mikkelsen has become the youngest driver to win the Intercontinental Rally Challenge after claiming victory on the season-closing Cyprus Rally. Amid emotional scenes captured live on Eurosport, Mikkeslen secured the title by one and a half points from Jan Kopecky, sealing...

 Skoda drivers lock out final standings The winner of the 2011 Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) is Andreas Mikkelsen of ŠKODA UK Motorsport. Driving a Fabia Super 2000 prepared by ŠKODA Motorsport (factory team), Mikkelsen comfortably won the season's last rally in Cyprus to make his dream of winning the ...

NEWS JUST IN

 CY end - Mikkelsen Champ @ 02:57 PM - Mikkelsen wins title by 1.5pts only as Kopecky feels he lost the title for the coefficient system. Loix and Loucaides both had misfiring engines and lost positions on the last stage. Final results (after SS11)(subject to last road section and scrutineering):
1st= Mikkelsen/Floene, Skoda, 2h25m18s5;
2nd= Kopecky/Dresler, Skoda, +1m40s5;
3rd= Sandell/Parmander, Skoda, +2m54s8;
4th= Kruuda/Järveoja, Skoda, +4m33s;
5th= Loix/Miclotte, Skoda, +5m25s4;
6th= Kahle/Göbel, Skoda, +7m48s9;
7th= Arai/Moscatt, Subaru, +8m16s2;
8th= Wallenwein/Kopczyk, Skoda, +13m06s7;
9th= Raoux/Magat, Renault, +14m36s4;
10th= Loucaides/Laos, Peugeot, +15m07s8

 CY SS10 - Mikkelsen 1 stage from title @ 01:43 PM - Slow time by Loix, reporting engine problems. Otherwise no real surprises on this asphalt stage. One live TV stage left till the 2011 title is decided. Results after SS10:
1st= Mikkelsen/Floene, Skoda, 2h10m55s;
2nd= Kopecky/Dresler, Skoda, +1m27s3;
3rd= Sandell/Parmander, Skoda, +2m25s4;
4th= Loix/Miclotte, Skoda, +3m08s4;
5th= Kruuda/Järveoja, Skoda, +4m01s9;
6th= Kahle/Göbel, Skoda, +6m35s2;
7th= Arai/Moscatt, Subaru, +7m25s6;
8th= Wallenwein/Kopczyk, Skoda, +12m19s;
9th= Raoux/Magat, Renault, +13m05s6;
10th= Loucaides/Laos, Peugeot, +13m09s3

 CY SS9 - Equal Punctures @ 01:14 PM - Well, not quite equal. Mikkelsen puncture, but so has Kopecky, and Kopecky loses half a minute more time. Al Attiyah out in service, engine. Thomas engine too. Results after SS9:
1st= Mikkelsen/Floene, Skoda, 1h59m14s2;
2nd= Kopecky/Dresler, Skoda, +1m21s1;
3rd= Sandell/Parmander, Skoda, +2m25s6;
4th= Loix/Miclotte, Skoda, +2m36s7;
5th= Kruuda/Järveoja, Skoda, +3m59s2;
6th= Kahle/Göbel, Skoda, +6m14s1;
7th= Arai/Moscatt, Subaru, +7m00s7;
8th= Wallenwein/Kopczyk, Skoda, +12m03s3;
9th= Raoux/Magat, Renault, +12m10s6;
10th= Loucaides/Laos, Peugeot, +12m26s2

 CY SS8 - Still no changes @ 09:56 AM - Longest stage of the day. Al Attiyah wins satge despite spin. Without the spin he could have been a real threat to Mikkelsen now. Results after SS8:
1st= Mikkelsen/Floene, Skoda, 1h46m13s3;
2nd= Al Attiyah/Bernacchini, Ford, +26s8;
3rd= Kopecky/Dresler, Skoda, +48s2;
4th= Sandell/Parmander, Skoda, +2m28s6;
5th= Loix/Miclotte, Skoda, +2m41s7;
6th= Kruuda/Järveoja, Skoda, +3m52s2;
7th= Kahle/Göbel, Skoda, +5m44s3;
8th= Arai/Moscatt, Subaru, +6m44s5;
9th= Thomas/Loizides, Mitsubishi, +7m41s4;
10th= Timotheou/Laos, Mitsubishi, +10m02s2

 CY SS7 - No changes on asphalt @ 08:46 AM - No changes on this 100% asphalt stage. Next the TV stage with 60% gravel, 40% asphalt. WRC drivers would spit their dummies about that! Results after SS7:
1st= Mikkelsen/Floene, Skoda, 1h31m47s3;
2nd= Al Attiyah/Bernacchini, Ford, +32s9;
3rd= Kopecky/Dresler, Skoda, +47s4;
4th= Sandell/Parmander, Skoda, +2m09s6;
5th= Loix/Miclotte, Skoda, +2m11s8;
6th= Kruuda/Järveoja, Skoda, +3m07s6;
7th= Kahle/Göbel, Skoda, +4m36s4;
8th= Arai/Moscatt, Subaru, +5m37s3;
9th= Thomas/Loizides, Mitsubishi, +6m37s;
10th= Timotheou/Laos, Mitsubishi, +8m10s

 CY SS6 - Miikkelsen extends lead @ 08:25 AM - Day 2 starts with another stage win for leader Mikkelsen. Sandell overtakes Loix. This was a 100% gravel stage, next is a 100% asphalt stage. Results after SS6:
1st= Mikkelsen/Floene, Skoda, 1h20m21s6;
2nd= Al Attiyah/Bernacchini, Ford, +27s6;
3rd= Kopecky/Dresler, Skoda, +34s4;
4th= Sandell/Parmander, Skoda, +1m51s;
5th= Loix/Miclotte, Skoda, +1m54s;
6th= Kruuda/Järveoja, Skoda, +2m46s3;
7th= Kahle/Göbel, Skoda, +4m01s7;
8th= Arai/Moscatt, Subaru, +4m52s1;
9th= Thomas/Loizides, Mitsubishi, +5m41s5;
10th= Timotheou/Laos, Mitsubishi, +7m09s8

Fri November 4, 2011

 Mikkelsen on top in title battle Andreas Mikkelsen has completed a dramatic opening day of the Cyprus Rally leading the Intercontinental Rally Challenge qualifier and firmly on course for the coveted title in his SKODA UK Motorsport Fabia Super 2000....

 Neuvilles bid stopped in its tracks The Peugeot Belgium-Luxemburg crew was the only subsidiary team at the start of this weekend’s Cyprus Rally, but their joy was unfortunately short-lived. After emerging at the top of the leaderboard by Friday lunchtime, Thierry Neuville and Nicolas Gilsoul were halted during ...

 Thrilling start to IRC finale for Skoda With a mix of surfaces, five candidates for the title and a double portion of points for grabs, the Cyprus Rally, the last event of this year's IRC Championship, had been expected to offer a dramatic spectacle even before it started. While the city prologue on Thursday jus...

NEWS JUST IN

 CY leg1 - Mikkelsen seems in control @ 02:48 PM - Spins for Al Attiyah and Kruuda. Al Attiyah still seems Mikkelsen's biggest thread, though it is 20s now. Results after leg1 (SS5):
1st= Mikkelsen/Floene, Skoda, 1h07m17s7;
2nd= Al Attiyah/Bernacchini, Ford, +20s7;
3rd= Kopecky/Dresler, Skoda, +46s1;
4th= Loix/Miclotte, Skoda, +1m41s2;
5th= Sandell/Parmander, Skoda, +1m46s3;
6th= Kruuda/Järveoja, Skoda, +2m43s5;
7th= Kahle/Göbel, Skoda, +3m30s6;
8th= Arai/Moscatt, Subaru, +4m35s3;
9th= Thomas/Loizides, Mitsubishi, +5m23s7;
10th= Timotheou/Laos, Mitsubishi, +6m42s9

 CY SS3 - Spin for Mikkelsen @ 10:49 AM - Mikkelsen drops 10s in the process. Strong time for Neuville. Otherwise surprisingly few dramas on a very mixed stage. Results after SS3:
1st= Neuville/Gilsoul, Peugeot, 35m12s1;
2nd= Mikkelsen/Floene, Skoda, +8s8;
3rd= Kopecky/Dresler, Skoda, +21s2;
4th= Al Attiyah/Bernacchini, Ford, +25s2;
5th= Sandell/Parmander, Skoda, +56s2;
6th= Loix/Miclotte, Skoda, +1m01s1;
7th= Kruuda/Järveoja, Skoda, +1m28s1;
8th= Kahle/Göbel, Skoda, +1m46s1;
9th= Arai/Moscatt, Subaru, +2m00s9;
10th= Wallenwein/Kopczyk, Skoda, +2m01s6

 CY SS2 - Mikkelsen fastest again @ 09:37 AM - Decent time by Neuville too. But shocking time by Loix despite no problems reported. Al Attiyah reports broken driveshaft, but still 3rd fastest time. This was the roughest stage of the day with mostly gravel, only last few kms on asphalt. Next stage is 65% asphalt. Results after SS2:
1st= Mikkelsen/Floene, Skoda, 23m12s7;
2nd= Neuville/Gilsoul, Peugeot, +8s;
3rd= Kopecky/Dresler, Skoda, +16s;
4th= Al Attiyah/Bernacchini, Ford, +22s;
5th= Sandell/Parmander, Skoda, +38s9;
6th= Loix/Miclotte, Skoda, +50s4;
7th= Kruuda/Järveoja, Skoda, +1m04s3;
8th= Kahle/Göbel, Skoda, +1m09s1;
9th= Arai/Moscatt, Subaru, +1m16s6;
10th= Wallenwein/Kopczyk, Skoda, +1m18s4

 CY SS2 Flash - Hänninen out @ 09:15 AM - Hänninen out of the title race. Hänninen rolled in the 2nd corner of the day! Hänninen is about the only driver who didn't necessarily need to win the rally for the title. Neuville start delay was because of that reason, so no time penalty for Neuville for the extra gap.

 CY SS4 - Puncture for Neuville @ 00:34 AM - Neuville dropped 3min and to 7th place now. But a fast time for Al Attiyah keeps things exciting. Although Al Attiyah himself has no relevance for the championship, if Mikkelsen wins, Mikkelsen is champ, if Al Attiyah wins, Kopecky is champ - in the current positions that is. Results after SS4:
1st= Mikkelsen/Floene, Skoda, 55m26s5;
2nd= Al Attiyah/Bernacchini, Ford, +18s7;
3rd= Kopecky/Dresler, Skoda, +39s7;
4th= Loix/Miclotte, Skoda, +1m25s2;
5th= Sandell/Parmander, Skoda, +1m29s1;
6th= Kruuda/Järveoja, Skoda, +2m04s;
7th= Neuville/Gilsoul, Peugeot, +2m46s5;
8th= Kahle/Göbel, Skoda, +2m47s8;
9th= Arai/Moscatt, Subaru, +3m19s1;
10th= Thomas/Loizides, Mitsubishi, +4m02s5

Thu November 3, 2011

 Albertini expects tough IRC 2WD battle Stefano Albertini fears Jean-Michel Raoux will prove tough to beat as he aims to clinch the IRC 2WD Cup on this week’s Cyprus Rally....

 Mixed surface format to test IRC crews Competitors on the Cyprus Rally, the final round of this year’s Intercontinental Rally Challenge, will have to master the art of driving on asphalt roads with gravel-specification tyres and car settings....

 Kopecky gets new codriver for IRC finale Jan Kopecky will start the Intercontinental Rally Challenge title decider in Cyprus this evening (Thursday) without his usual co-driver by his side. Petr Stary, who has guided Kopecky to the top of the IRC standings with one round remaining, is unable to contest the Cyprus Ral...

NEWS JUST IN

 CY SS1 - Mikkelsen leads show stage @ 06:01 PM - Just a short show stage, so no dramas, but quite clearly fastest time for Mikkelsen. Results after SS1:
1st= Mikkelsen/Floene, Skoda, 2m48s9;
2nd= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, +3s1;
3rd= Kopecky/Dresler, Skoda, +3s3;
4th= Loix/Miclotte, Skoda, +3s6;
5th= Neuville/Gilsoul, Peugeot, +4s1;
6th= Arai/Moscatt, Subaru, +8s9;
7th= Sandell/Parmander, Skoda, +10s7;
8th= Al Attiyah/Bernacchini, Ford, +12s1;
9th= Wallenwein/Kopczyk, Skoda, +12s3;
10th= Kahle/Göbel, Skoda, +13s7

Wed November 2, 2011

 Puskadi targets the Top 3 in Cyprus The 2011 Intercontinental Rally Challenge concludes in Cyprus this week and Hungarian Janos Puskadi is aiming to end on a high with a podium finish. A chance also remains for Puskadi to scoop the 2WD Driver's Championship title, adding to Martin Kangur's stunning victory ...

Tue November 1, 2011

 IRC Cyprus Preview Here the complete Cyprus Rally Preview with stage schedule, TV guide and everything....

 Unprecedented TV coverage for IRC Cyprus Television coverage of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge title showdown in Cyprus next month will reach 120 countries worldwide with four stages shown live on three channels and extensive highlights transmitted by 25 broadcasters around the globe....

Mon October 31, 2011

 Golden Stage Rally set for live television The Cyprus Golden Stage Rally will be shown live on television around the world when it takes place for a second time on Sunday 6 November....

 Thierry Neuville on his own The last round of the 2011 Intercontinental Rally Challenge (November 3-5) takes teams to Cyprus where Thierry Neuville will be the best-placed 207 S2000 runner in the chase for the Drivers’ crown. Despite his limited experience of the event, the Peugeot Belgium- Luxemburg yo...

 Harry aims for victory on IRC finale Harry Hunt is determined to end the defence of his IRC 2WD Cup title with victory on the Cyprus Rally this week.   Having already secured one major rally championship this season (the FIA Production Car Cup for Drivers of 2WD Cars), Harry’s hopes of dominating the two-wheel dri...

 Skoda sends 4 candidates to Cyprus The final event of this year's Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) to take place in Cyprus over the upcoming weekend promises a thrilling spectacle. Three weeks after repeating its victory in the Manufacturers Cup from last year, ŠKODA is about to field four drivers of...

Tue October 25, 2011

 Cetinkaya set for 2nd IRC run in Cyprus Burcu Cetinkaya, the only female driver to score points in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, plans to build on the experience she gained at the wheel of her SKODA Fabia Super 2000 in Scotland earlier this month when she contests the Cyprus Rally from 3-5 November....

 Neuville to go all out in IRC title bid Thierry Neuville says he “will do everything to win” the prestigious Intercontinental Rally Challenge crown when the series concludes with a six-way title fight on the Cyprus Rally next month....

Mon October 24, 2011

 Golden Stage Rally excitement builds Preparations for the second running of the Cyprus In Your Heart Golden Stage Rally on 6 November continue apace with confirmation that the overall winner stands to receive 40,000 Euros in prize money....

 Six-way IRC battle set for Cyprus finale An unprecedented six drivers will do battle for the Intercontinental Rally Challenge crown when the series reaches its electrifying climax on the Cyprus Rally next month (3-5 November)....

Tue September 13, 2011

 Golden Stage Rally 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....