Qatar’s Nasser Al-Attiyah clinched his 21st Middle East Rally Championship title and a record-extending 10th Cyprus Rally victory after beating Cypriot driver Simos Galatariotis by just 4.63 seconds in a thrilling finish to the 52nd edition of the event.
According to the organisers, the margin was the second smallest in the rally’s history, behind Galatariotis’ 0.7-second victory over Magalhaes in 2018.
Al-Attiyah took a decisive risk in the final special stage, driving without a spare tyre and going 8.7 seconds faster than Galatariotis. The Cypriot finished on the podium for the third time, his first appearance since winning the event in 2018.
The Cyprus Rally was the fifth and final round of the 2026 FIA Middle East Rally Championship.
Michalis Poseidias and co-driver Pambos Laos finished third overall in a Renault Clio, winning the Rally3 category and securing Poseidias’ first Cyprus Rally podium. Last year’s champions, Giangos Giagkou and Nicolaos Nicolaou, finished fourth after encountering problems during the afternoon stages.
Turkish Cypriot drivers Sukuroglu and Topcuoslu finished fifth in a Volkswagen Polo, followed by Zenonos and Christofi in a Ford Fiesta. Al-Attiyah and co-driver Carrera won six special stages, while Galatariotis and Ioannou claimed four. One stage was cancelled on Sunday because spectators failed to comply with safety instructions.
In the local event, Kokias and Constantinou won in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX, followed by Chappelis and Chrysanthou in a Subaru Impreza, and Christodoulou and Nestoras in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII.