Cyprus International Rally brings 30 crews to championship decider
The 52nd Cyprus International Rally features crews from eight countries, with the Middle East championship title to be settled across 12 gravel stages.
Larnaca, Cyprus. The 52nd Cyprus International Rally takes place this weekend with 30 crews representing eight countries. As round five and the final event in the FIA Middle East Rally Championship, it will determine this year’s title winner.
Championship contenders
The Cyprus Automobile Association has organised the island’s flagship rally since 1970.
Qatar’s Nasser Al-Attiyah heads the championship standings on 70 points and will drive a Škoda Fabia. With nine wins in Cyprus, he is the event’s most successful driver and has secured 20 championship titles, most recently in 2025.
His closest challenger is Saudi Arabia’s Hamza Bakhashab, 22, who has 66 points and will compete in a Toyota Yaris. Fellow Qatari Nasser Khalifa Al-Atya follows on 61 points in a Ford Fiesta, while Oman’s Abdullah Al-Rawahi, the 2024 champion, has 56 points and will drive a Škoda Fabia.
Local challengers for victory include Simos Galatariotis, a multiple Cypriot title winner, in a Škoda Fabia, and Panagiotis Yiangou, last year’s Cyprus champion, in a Hyundai i20.
Ceremonies and public access
The event schedule places today’s ceremonial start at 18:00 in Europe Square, on Larnaca’s Phinikoudes seafront. The same venue will host Sunday’s finish ceremony at 17:00, after which the 2026 Middle East Rally Champion will be crowned.
The publicly accessible Service Park is beside the Mall of Cyprus, across from the E-CARS showroom.
Scrutineering was completed yesterday. This morning’s programme in Tseri includes the official shakedown and qualifying, with qualifying setting the order in which crews start the opening leg.
The route totals 657.74 km, of which 183.92 km comprise 12 special stages on gravel. Saturday’s mountain route visits Agios Epifanios, Kapouras and Kourdali, each run in the morning and repeated during the afternoon. Sunday’s stages are Doryforikos, Vavatsinia and Stavrovouni, near Pyrga. The repeat visit to Stavrovouni at 15:13 is designated the Power Stage.
Friday, October 23
According to the event timetable, free practice begins in Tseri at 08:30, followed there by qualifying at 11:00. The ceremonial start in Larnaca’s Europe Square is scheduled for 18:00.
Saturday, October 24
The opening loop begins at 09:33 with SS1, Agios Epifanios, covering 14.42 km. SS2, Kapouras, starts at 10:31 over 19.99 km, followed at 11:29 by the 21.22 km SS3, Kourdali.
The afternoon loop starts at 14:42 with SS4, Agios Epifanios 2, over 14.42 km. SS5, Kapouras 2, covers 19.99 km from 15:40, while SS6, Kourdali 2, begins at 16:38 over 21.22 km.
Sunday, October 25
Sunday opens at 08:33 with the 12.40 km SS7, Doryforikos. SS8, Vavatsinia, follows at 09:26 over 13.40 km, before the 10.53 km SS9, Stavrovouni, starts at 10:29.
SS10, Doryforikos 2, begins at 12:57 and covers 12.40 km. The 13.40 km SS11, Vavatsinia 2, starts at 13:50. SS12, the Stavrovouni Power Stage, runs over 10.53 km from 15:13.
The finish in Larnaca’s Europe Square is scheduled for 17:00.
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