NICOSIA: Qatar’s rally ace Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah (pictured) and co-driver Giovanni Bernacchini are part of the top draw entry list at the Cyprus Rally which will take place between September 19 and 21.
The fifth round of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC) has also attracted other top names from the region.
According to organisers, altogether 66 crews are part of a temporary entry list that consists of many teams from the European Rally Championship (ERC) and the MERC.
The entry list includes 13 crews from the ERC, nine crews from the MERC and 44 crews from Cyprus. All of them are ready to tackle the 773.34km event.
Al Attiyah — a nine-time MERC champion — will be looking forward to achieving a possible fourth regional championship.
The Qatari star has already managed wins in Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan Rallies at the beginning of the current year, scoring 75 points.
UAE’s Khalid Al Qassimi with his co-driver Chris Patterson in their Citroën DS3 RRC will be seeking precious points to stake claim for top spot in overall rankings.
Another big name in Cyprus will be Yazeed Al Rajhi in his Ford Fiesta RRC.
Qatar’s Abdulaziz Al Kuwari with his co-driver Duffy in their Ford Fiesta RRS will also feature in this rally along with compatriot Abdullah Al Kuwari.
Qatar’s Khalifa Saleh Al Attiyah — whose car was burnt in Lebanon Rally — with his co-driver Adel Hussain in his Aveo 10 has also entered the race.
It is expected that Khalifa will be competing with the Aveo 10 of Kuwaiti Mishary Aldaferi for the title of the group “N” cars, since the latter is currently at the top of the temporary general ranking for the drivers in the regional championship.
Cyprus Rally 2014 will begin on September 18 with the shakedown and qualifying stage in a 4.47km special stage in Agios Sozomenos in Nicosia.
The next day the official ceremonies will start, and then the show stage in Nicosia streets will be displayed. Finally the finishing ceremony will be held on September 21.
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