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The Cyprus Rally 2009 will be the most interesting and demanding World Rally Championship (WRC) event of the year, stated Thursday Vice Chairman of the Cyprus Rally Organising Committee and Member of Parliament Marinos Sizopoulos.
Speaking at a press conference to announce the details of the Cyprus Rally 2009, to take place 13 – 15 March, 2009, Sizopoulos commented on the positive international coverage that Cyprus will receive as a result of this highly regarded event.
“Such exposure is extremely valuable for the Cyprus tourism industry”, he said, noting that some 15.000 tourists will attend the Rally and the estimated profit for Cyprus will be 25 million euros.
The Cyprus Rally is organised by the Cyprus Automobile Association (CAA).
After two years of participating in the Middle East Rally Championship (MERC), this year the Rally will again be part of the World Rally Championship (WRC), as Round 3 of the WRC Calendar.
“The FIA has entrusted the organization of the Cyprus Rally to the CAA, and with good reason. It is the first time in many years that a multi surface event – combining tarmac and gravel stages – has been run and the FIA is confident that the CAA can successfully undertake such a task”, Sizopoulos said.
He concluded by stating that it would not be an exaggeration to claim that the Cyprus Rally will be the most interesting and demanding WRC event of the year.
Overall, 35 teams will participate in the Cyprus Rally.
Regarding the starting order, in car number 1 will be defending World Rally Champion, 2009 Championship leader, and winner of the last three WRC Cyprus Rally events, Sebastien Loeb, in his Citroen Total World Rally Team C4.
He will be followed by Mikko Hirvonen in car number 3 – the Finnish driver of the BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team currently sits second in the championship in his Ford Focus WRC. Third up will be Loeb’s Citroen teammate Daniel Sordo.
A group of Cypriot drivers will also be competing, including two past winners of the Cyprus Rally, Nicos Thomas and Charalambous Timotheou. Other local drivers that have confirmed their participation are Pantelis Pambouka, Yiotis Chartoupalos, Eraklis Velissariou and Aristofanis Avraam.
