Freddy Loix’s co-driver Frederic Miclotte says the BFO-SKODA
Rally Team pair won’t give up on their dream of winning the
Intercontinental Rally Challenge crown despite conceding they start
the title showdown in Cyprus next month with a disadvantage to their
rivals.
The Belgian aces did not contest the last round in Scotland earlier
this month and are sixth in the IRC title race, 28 points behind
leaders Jan Kopecky and Petr Stary.
“Of course it’s going to be difficult for us and we need
some of the other drivers not to finish but we have to believe
it’s still possible,” said Miclotte. “Missing
Scotland is a disadvantage but we knew that would be the case a the
start of the season. We will just do our best.”
Loix and Miclotte will undertake a one-day test in Cyprus on Sunday
(30 October).
Al-Attiyah targets Golden Stage Rally revenge
Nasser Al-Attiyah will start the Cyprus Golden Stage Rally on 6
November determined to claim the victory that eluded him when the
event took place for the first time last season.
Al-Attiyah finished second to Andreas Mikkelsen on the
live-for-television spectacular but wants to go one better when he
tackles the mixed-surface event in his M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000.
“Last year we just lose the first position and finish
second,” said Al-Attiyah. “It’s a great idea, one
stage used twice. Everybody will be there and it will be an
interesting rally.”
Al-Attiyah, from Qatar, has a long record of success competing in
Cyprus and finished first when the country hosted its first
Intercontinental Rally Challenge event in 2010.
Street stage to open Cyprus Rally
Next month’s Cyprus Rally, the final round of the
Intercontinental Rally Challenge, will get underway with a
superspecial stage in downtown Pafos.
The LTV Super Special Stage, which is backed by the event’s
local broadcaster, covers two laps of a 1.6-kilometre all-Tarmac
course around Pafos Town Hall and gets underway at 19:00hrs local time
on Thursday 3 November. Access will be free for spectators.
“The LTV Super Special Stage will be a spectacular event and
potentially the most exciting sporting event we have ever seen in
Cyprus,” said Antonis Michaelides, chairman of the event
organiser Cyprus Automobile Association. “It will be a
complicated thing to do, but I am confident we will achieve something
truly memorable.”
Hunt aims to finish IRC 2WD Cup on the up
Reigning IRC 2WD Cup champion Harry Hunt has vowed to finish his 2011
season on a high despite failing in his bid to defend his crown.
Hunt needed a strong result in the two-wheel-drive division on the
most recent round in Scotland but a crash on the final day put him out
of the running.
“Harry was genuinely not far off the pace and making up time on
the leader in Scotland when he got caught out in the slippery
conditions and went off the road,” said Hunt’s team
manager Iwan Evans. “But this was valuable experience for Harry
because he’s experienced the pressure that comes with chasing
victory. The more he does this the more it will help his progression
and I’ve no doubt he’ll be challenging for the win on his
next rally.”

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