Nasser Al-Attiyah says caution will be required on the opening stage of the Cyprus Rally, the deciding round of the 2011 Intercontinental Rally Challenge.
The 3.20-kilometre LTV Super Special Stage runs through the streets of host town Pafos on an all-asphalt course.
Al-Attiyah, who won in Cyprus last season in his M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000 (pictured), said: “It will not be an easy stage because it’s inside the town. But it will be good for the spectators as there is more show, more fun so it’s a good idea by the organiser.
"We say we cannot take risk but when we put the helmet on and tighten the seatbelt we go flat out but we must take care also. There are a lot of steps at the side of the road and we must finish because the real rally starts tomorrow.”
The LTV Super Special Stage got underway at 19:00hrs local time. Al-Attiyah started first followed by IRC title leader Jan Kopecký (ŠKODA Fabia S2000).