A third stage victory of the day has ensured Andreas Mikkelsen tops the Cyprus Rally leaderboard at the completion of day one of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge qualifier.
Driving a ŠKODA UK Motorsport Fabia Super 2000, Mikkelsen headed Nasser Al-Attiyah by 2.0s over the mixed-surface Salamiou 2 stage shown live on Eurosport, LTV and RTBF. The Norwegian’s overnight lead stands at 20.7s.
Al-Attiyah, the winner in Cyprus 12 months ago, lost precious seconds running wide on a left-hand bend in his M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000.
Freddy Loix, who was fourth quickest in his BFO-ŠKODA Rally Team Fabia, 9.6s slower than IRC title leader Jan Kopecký, suffered a spin. Karl Kruuda also spun avoiding striking a rock in his privateer Fabia.
A front-right puncture caused Mark Wallenwein further delay in his ŠKODA Auto Deutschland entry.
Crews are now heading to the overnight service halt in Pafos. The action resumes with the 14.82-kilometre Gialia stage on Saturday morning.
| Pos. | Team | Car | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mikkelsen Andreas / Floene Ola | Škoda Fabia S2000 | 1h07m17.7s |
| 2 | Al-Attiyah N. / Bernacchini G. | Ford Fiesta S2000 | +20.7s |
| 3 | Kopecký Jan / Starý Petr | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +46.1s |
| 4 | Loix Freddy / Dresler Pavel | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +1m41.2s |
| 5 | Sandell Patrik / Parmander S. | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +1m46.3s |
| 6 | Kruuda Karl / Järveoja M. | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +2m43.5s |
| 7 | Kahle Matthias / Göbel Peter | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +3m30.6s |
| 8 | Arai Toshihiro / Moscatt Dale | Subaru Impreza Sti R4 | +4m35.3s |
| 9 | Thomas Nicos / Loizides A. | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX | +5m23.7s |
| 10 | Timotheou C. / Laos Pambos | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX | +6m42.9s |
| 11 | Raoux J. / Magat Laurent | Renault Clio R3 | +7m21.7s |
| 12 | Loucaides Doros / Laos Savvas | Peugeot 207 S2000 | +7m33.9s |
| 13 | Albertini S. / Scattolin S. | Renault Clio R3 | +8m19.7s |
| 14 | Hunt Harry / Durant Robbie | Citroën DS3 R3T | +8m25.0s |
| 15 | Yiangou P. / Christofi L. | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX | +8m28.7s |