While the outcome of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge drivers’ and manufacturers’ titles has been settled in favour of Juho Hanninen and Skoda respectively, the battle for the IRC 2WD Cup will go down to the wire on the FxPro Cyprus Rally, which takes place on the Mediterranean island from 4-6 November.
Double event winners Kevin Abbring and Rafael Tulio jointly top the IRC 2WD Cup drivers’ standings with Harry Hunt on 20 points apiece. However, with only Hunt set to contest the mixed-surface event in his I Cars Motorsport M-Sport Ford Fiesta R2, the title will be Hunt’s providing he can score a points’ finish to move above his rivals.
If Hunt does prevail and follows in the footsteps of 2009 class champion Denis Millet, he will have to wait until he receives his trophy. It is due to be presented at the end-of-season awards, which will take place at Le Meridien Limassol Spa and Resort on the evening of Sunday 7 November. However, Hunt is flying back to his native United Kingdom following the finish to prepare for another rally taking place the following weekend.
Hungarian Honda Civic drivers Janos Puskadi and Laszlo Vizin will provide Hunt with his main opposition in Cyprus but are not in contention for the IRC 2WD Cup title.