TOUGH TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS TAKE THEIR TOLL ON CYPRUS RALLY - 16-18 October

 Cyprus Mail 13 October 2020 - Press Release

Organisers of the annual race made clear that despite the difficulties created by the coronavirus pandemic, scrapping the rally 'was not an option'. It will be held between October 16 and 18

Tough travel restrictions imposed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic have taken their toll on the Cyprus Rally which this year has not been included on the European Championship calendar but only counts for the Middle East Championship.

However, organisers made clear that despite the difficulties created by the pandemic, scrapping the rally “was not an option”. It will be held between October 16 and 18.

“Because of the strict conditions to travel from country to country most European championship participants said they were unwilling to be subjected to the arduous process that coming to remote Cyprus entails,” said Cyprus Automobile Association president Antonis Michaelides.

He told a press conference that the European part of the rally had had to be cancelled because it would have entailed paying significant sums rights to the promoter as well as increased organisational costs because of Covid-19.   “We will focus on organising an impeccable international event that will count towards the Middle East Championship,” he said.

Phivos Zachariades, presidential adviser on sport, expressed the hope that with support from the state, the rally will be back on the European calendar next year.

Rally steward Nayia Kontopoulou said 2020 had been particularly difficult for international events such as this one. “However, cancelling the country’s longest-held and most important international sporting event was not an option for us, the organisers,” she added.

The rally will start on Friday afternoon from the Service Park, without spectators. There will be three special stages on Saturday morning and three in the afternoon. On Sunday, there will be a special stage at Lefkara and then at Analiontas that will be repeated at midday.

The last part will be a Super Special Stage at Achna Speedway where spectators can watch from the stands. Spectators will not be allowed to access the Service Park or the start and end of the special stages, with the exception being the final Eneos Super Special Stage.

Cyprus Rally