|
At a press conference in Nicosia today, the organizers of the 2006 Cyprus Rally presented their plans for a world rallying first - unleashing high-speed rally action on the winding streets of a lively Mediterranean coastal resort!
Bringing the glamour of F1's Monaco Grand Prix to downtown Limassol - the first ever Downtown Special promises thrills and excitement unparalleled in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) calendar.
The Cyprus Automobile Association, the organizers of the Cyprus Rally, are determined to keep their event at the cutting edge of rallying, by pushing the boundaries of what has gone before. Therefore, 2006 sees the Cyprus Rally take the special stage concept one step further.
Speaking at the press conference, Clerk of the Course Takis Kyriakides shared the excitement for this unique motorsport event: 'Taking in Limassol's sea front along with the town's medieval castle, old market, and many narrow and winding streets, the 3.5-kilometre Downtown Special, or D.T.S., promises to be fast, exciting and unforgettable.
'Held over a 3-hour period, including sideshow events and entertainment, the DTS promises to be a spectacular finale to this year's Cyprus rally. The event will be broadcast live to more than 100 million viewers in Europe alone'.
A number of choices were available for venue, including stadiums, out of town gravel stages, and 'usual' venues. But the final decision to organize this in-town spectacular came following a positive response from Mayor of Limassol Demetris Kontides, who is clearly keen to further improve an event which promotes Limassol as a leading holiday destination: 'There's a great sense of pride in Limassol that we host the Cyprus Rally every year, and the opportunity to further enhance the event with a unique stage such as this is just too good to miss. We're sure this will be great fun for spectators and drivers alike.'
Photis Photiou, Chairman of the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) - the main sponsor of the 2006 Cyprus Rally - was similarly upbeat: 'Once again, we are very proud to host an official round of the World Rally Championship and we congratulate the Cyprus AA for organizing consistently excellent events which earn Cyprus considerable exposure in the international media. It is a great privilege for Cyprus to host an international sporting event of this magnitude and the CTO will do all it can to ensure that our rally maintains its reputation as one of the most exciting rounds of the WRC .'
Costas Lamaris - well known for his exceptional organization of the successful Acropolis Rally super special stage at the Olympic Stadium- will be a senior consultant for the Limassol DTS.
Scheduled for 22nd-24th September 2006, this year's Cyprus Rally promises to be another exciting test of man and machine under the warm Mediterranean sunshine. | 
