2009 Cyprus Rally
Encyclopedia
The 2009 Cyprus Rally, officially 37th FxPro Cyprus Rally, was the third round of the 2009 World Rally Championship season
and was held between March 13 and March 15, 2009 in Limassol
, Cyprus
. Sébastien Loeb
and Daniel Elena
claimed the title and won the WRC's first mixed-surface round since 1996.
The Cyprus Rally was last held in 2006, but was dropped along with Rally Australia
in favour of new rallies such as Rally Norway
, and Rally Ireland
, and the returning Rally de Portugal
.
Its format changed to a mixed surface rally format from all-gravel rally. The Cyprus Rally was the first rally since Rallye Sanremo - Rallye d'Italia
in 1996 to host a mixed surfaced event. Day 1 was contested on tarmac, while days 2 & 3 were contested on rough gravel roads.
2009 World Rally Championship season
The 2009 World Rally Championship season was the 37th season of the FIA World Rally Championship. The season consisted of twelve rallies and began on 30 January, with Rally Ireland and ended with Rally GB on 25 October. Sébastien Loeb won the World Drivers' championship at Rally GB by one point...
and was held between March 13 and March 15, 2009 in Limassol
Limassol
Limassol is the second-largest city in Cyprus, with a population of 228,000 . It is the largest city in geographical size, and the biggest municipality on the island. The city is located on Akrotiri Bay, on the island's southern coast and it is the capital of Limassol District.Limassol is the...
, Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
. Sébastien Loeb
Sébastien Loeb
Sébastien Loeb is a French rally driver currently driving for the Citroën World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship...
and Daniel Elena
Daniel Elena
Daniel Elena is a Monegasque rally co-driver, currently working with Sébastien Loeb. Between them, the pair have won the World Rally Championship eight times, and currently compete with the Citroën DS3 WRC...
claimed the title and won the WRC's first mixed-surface round since 1996.
The Cyprus Rally was last held in 2006, but was dropped along with Rally Australia
Rally Australia
Rally Australia is an automobile rally event which was held in and around Perth, Western Australia from 1988 until 2006, when that state's tourism commission severed its collaboration with the event. The rally was part of the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship in 1988 and the World Rally Championship...
in favour of new rallies such as Rally Norway
Rally Norway
Rally Norway is the Norwegian rally which, as of the 2007 season onwards, is part of the World Rally Championship organised by the FIA. Previously, it had long only been the case of the Swedish Rally where a WRC event was held on snow...
, and Rally Ireland
Rally Ireland
Rally Ireland was a new addition to the FIA World Rally Championship calendar in 2007. It was not part of the 2008 schedule, but returned as the First round of the championship in 2009. The North-South event is the largest sporting occasion on the island of Ireland with over 250,000 spectators and...
, and the returning Rally de Portugal
Rally de Portugal
The Rally de Portugal is a rally competition held in Portugal. First held in 1967, the seventh running of the race, the 7º TAP Rallye de Portugal was the third event in the inaugural FIA World Rally Championship in 1973...
.
Its format changed to a mixed surface rally format from all-gravel rally. The Cyprus Rally was the first rally since Rallye Sanremo - Rallye d'Italia
Rallye Sanremo
Rallye Sanremo is a rally competition held in Sanremo, Italy. Except for the 1995 event, the event was part of the FIA World Rally Championship schedule from the 1973 season to the 2003 season. Currently, it is a round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge and the Italian national rally...
in 1996 to host a mixed surfaced event. Day 1 was contested on tarmac, while days 2 & 3 were contested on rough gravel roads.
Results
| Pos. | Driver | Co-driver | Car | Time | Difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WRC | ||||||
| 1. |  Sébastien LoebSébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb is a French rally driver currently driving for the Citroën World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship... |
 Daniel ElenaDaniel Elena Daniel Elena is a Monegasque rally co-driver, currently working with Sébastien Loeb. Between them, the pair have won the World Rally Championship eight times, and currently compete with the Citroën DS3 WRC... |
Citroën C4 WRC Citroën C4 WRC The Citroën C4 WRC is a World Rally Car built for the Citroën World Rally Team by Citroën Racing to compete in the World Rally Championship. It is based upon the Citroën C4 road car and replaced the Citroën Xsara WRC... |
4:50:34.7 | 0.0 | 10 |
| 2. |  Mikko HirvonenMikko Hirvonen Mikko Hirvonen is a Finnish rally driver currently driving for the Citroën Total World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship. He placed third in the drivers' championship and helped Ford to the manufacturers' title in both 2006 and 2007. In 2008, 2009 and 2011, he finished runner-up to... |
Jarmo Lehtinen Jarmo Lehtinen Jarmo Lehtinen is a Finnish sports commentator and journalist who works who works for Finland's National Broadcasting Company YLE. He commentates sports events, mainly football matches, for both radio and television. He regularly commentatos football for the Jalkapallokierros program in Radio Suomi... |
Ford Focus RS WRC 08 | 4:51:01.9 | +27.2 | 8 |
| 3. |  Petter SolbergPetter Solberg Petter "Hollywood" Solberg , from Spydeberg in Østfold, Norway, is a professional rally driver. He debuted in the World Rally Championship in 1998 and was signed by the Ford factory team in 1999... |
Phil Mills Phil Mills Phil Mills is a Welsh rally racing co-driver. He was winner of the 2003 World Rally Championship , as co-driver to Petter Solberg.... |
Citroën Xsara WRC | 4:52:24.1 | +1:49.4 | 6 |
| 4. |  Dani SordoDani Sordo Daniel "Dani" Sordo Castillo is a Spanish rally driver. He competes in the World Rally Championship for the Mini WRC Team... |
Marc Marti Marc Martí Marc Martí Moreno is a Spanish rally co-driver. He debuted in the World Rally Championship as a co-driver to Oriol Gómez in 1992. In the 1999 season, he began his partnership with Jesús Puras and the Citroën factory team. The pair took a surprise second place at the 1999 Tour de Corse, behind... |
Citroën C4 WRC Citroën C4 WRC The Citroën C4 WRC is a World Rally Car built for the Citroën World Rally Team by Citroën Racing to compete in the World Rally Championship. It is based upon the Citroën C4 road car and replaced the Citroën Xsara WRC... |
4:53:01.0 | +2:26.3 | 5 |
| 5. | Matthew Wilson Matthew Wilson Matthew Wilson is an English rally driver from Cockermouth in Cumbria. He is the son of M-Sport boss and former WRC driver Malcolm Wilson. Wilson currently competes in the World Rally Championship for the Stobart M-Sport Ford team... |
Scott Martin Scott Martin Scott Martin is an Australian shot putter and discus throw competitor. He rose to prominence in a National Australia Bank advertisement promoting the 2006 Commonwealth Games; in the ad, Martin was shown taking part in a ballet class to improve his discus technique... |
Ford Focus RS WRC 08 | 4:57:15.7 | +6:41.0 | 4 |
| 6. |  Conrad RautenbachConrad Rautenbach Conrad Rautenbach is a rally driver from Zimbabwe who competed in the World Rally Championship for the Citroën Junior Team along with his co-driver Daniel Barritt... |
Daniel Barritt | Citroën C4 WRC Citroën C4 WRC The Citroën C4 WRC is a World Rally Car built for the Citroën World Rally Team by Citroën Racing to compete in the World Rally Championship. It is based upon the Citroën C4 road car and replaced the Citroën Xsara WRC... |
5:01:46.6 | +11:11.9 | 3 |
| 7. |  Federico VillagraFederico Villagra Federico Villagra is an Argentine rally driver competing in the World Rally Championship for the Munchi's Ford World Rally Team... |
Jorge Perez Companc |
Ford Focus RS WRC 08 | 5:03:53.2 | +13:18.5 | 2 |
| 8. |  Khalid Al-QassimiKhalid al-Qassimi Sheikh Khalid bin Faisal bin Sultan Al Qassimi is a rally driver from the United Arab Emirates. He won the FIA's Middle East Rally Championship in 2004 and currently competes in the World Rally Championship... |
Michael Orr | Ford Focus RS WRC 08 | 5:04:18.8 | +13:44.1 | 1 |
| JWRC | ||||||
| 1. (14.) |  Martin ProkopMartin Prokop Martin Prokop is a Czech rally driver. He won the Junior World Rally Championship in the 2009 season.-Career:... |
Jan Tomanek |
Citroën C2 S1600 | 5:20:54.0 | 0.0 | 10 |
| 2. (17.) |  Michal Kosciuszko |
Maciek Szczepaniak |
Suzuki Swift S1600 | 5:22:30.8 | +1:36.8 | 8 |
| 3. (21.) |  Aaron Nicolai Burkart |
Michael Koelbach |
Suzuki Swift S1600 | 5:40:42.9 | +19:48.9 | 6 |
| PWRC | ||||||
| 1. (9.) |  Patrik SandellPatrik Sandell Patrik Sandell is a rally driver from Sweden. Sandell won the Swedish Junior Championship in 2004 and the Swedish Group N3 Championship in 2005. In 2006, he won the Junior World Rally Championship title driving for Renault... |
Emil Axelsson |
Škoda Fabia S2000 Škoda Fabia S2000 The Škoda Fabia S2000 is Super 2000 rally car built by Škoda Motorsport. It is based upon the Škoda Fabia road car. It made its début at Rallye Monte Carlo 2009, with factory team Škoda Motorsport and drivers Jan Kopecký and Juho Hänninen. The car appeared as fast as Hänninen was leading until a... |
5:10:11.3 | 0.0 | 10 |
| 2. (10.) |  Armindo AraujoArmindo Araújo Armindo Araújo is a Portuguese rally driver. He won the Production World Rally Championship in the 2009 season, repeating the accomplishment in the next year , to become the first pilot to ever win this cup twice in a row since its creation back in 2002.-Career:Araújo began rallying in 2000,... |
Ramalho Miguel |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX | 5:10:29.6 | +18.3 | 8 |
| 3. (11.) |  Nasser Al-AttiyahNasser Al-Attiyah Nasser Salih Nasser Abdullah Al-Attiyah is a Qatari rally driver and sport shooter. He participates in the Production World Rally Championship , which he won in 2006, and the Dakar Rally, which he won in 2011... |
 Giovanni Bernacchini |
Subaru Impreza N14 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX STI The Subaru Impreza WRX STI, has the highest trim in the Subaru Impreza compact car line, produced by Japanese automaker Subaru.In the late 1980s, Subaru created the Subaru Tecnica International division to coordinate development for the FIA World Rally Championship and other motorsports activities... |
5:11:10.1 | +58.8 | 6 |
| 4. (13.) |  Toshi AraiToshi Arai is a Japanese rally driver and team owner. He made his debut in 1987, and drove for the Subaru World Rally Team in the Group N World Rally Championship from 1997–2000 and 2002–2003, and the Group A Championship in 2000–2001.... |
 Glenn MacNeal |
Subaru Impreza 2007 Subaru Impreza Introduced in November 1993, the Impreza was offered in either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive versions and as a four-door sedan/saloon or five-door station wagon/estate. According to a Motor Trend article written March 1992 on page 26, the name of Subaru's new compact was, initially, to be... |
5:18:45.4 | +8:34.1 | 5 |
| 5. (15.) |  Andis Neiksans |
Peteris Djirkals |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX | 5:21:46.6 | +11:35.3 | 4 |
| 6. (16.) |  Charalambos Timotheou |
Savvas Laos |
Subaru Impreza N12b Subaru Impreza WRX STI The Subaru Impreza WRX STI, has the highest trim in the Subaru Impreza compact car line, produced by Japanese automaker Subaru.In the late 1980s, Subaru created the Subaru Tecnica International division to coordinate development for the FIA World Rally Championship and other motorsports activities... |
5:22:01.7 | +11:50.4 | 3 |
| 7. (19.) |  Gaurav Singh Gill |
David Senior | Subaru Impreza 2008 Subaru Impreza Introduced in November 1993, the Impreza was offered in either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive versions and as a four-door sedan/saloon or five-door station wagon/estate. According to a Motor Trend article written March 1992 on page 26, the name of Subaru's new compact was, initially, to be... |
5:31:22.2 | +21:10.9 | 2 |
| 8. (20.) | Frederic Sauvan |
Thibault Gorczyca |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX | 5:39:10.2 | +28:58.9 | 1 |
Special stages
| Day | Stage | Time (EET) | Name | Length | Winner | Time | Avg. spd. | Rally leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (13 MAR) |
SS1 | 09:23 | Panagia 1 | 30.33 km | Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb is a French rally driver currently driving for the Citroën World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship... |
22:01.3 | 0.0 km/h | Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb is a French rally driver currently driving for the Citroën World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship... |
| SS2 | 10:21 | Mylikouri 1 | 7.37 km | Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb is a French rally driver currently driving for the Citroën World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship... |
5:33.9 | 0.0 km/h | ||
| SS3 | 10:46 | Gerakies 1 | 29.40 km | Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb is a French rally driver currently driving for the Citroën World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship... |
21:09.2 | 0.0 km/h | ||
| SS4 | 14:34 | Panagia 2 | 30.33 km | Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb is a French rally driver currently driving for the Citroën World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship... |
22:06.8 | 0.0 km/h | ||
| SS5 | 15:32 | Mylikouri 2 | 7.37 km | Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb is a French rally driver currently driving for the Citroën World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship... |
5:34.9 | 0.0 km/h | ||
| SS6 | 15:57 | Gerakies 2 | 29.40 km | Daniel Sordo |
21:18.0 | 0.0 km/h | ||
| 2 (14 MAR) |
SS7 | 08:43 | Anadiou Dam 1 | 11.70 km | Jari-Matti Latvala Jari-Matti Latvala Jari-Matti Latvala is a Finnish rally driver competing in the World Rally Championship. His co-driver has been Miikka Anttila since the 2003 Rallye Deutschland... |
11:02.4 | 0.0 km/h | |
| SS8 | 09:11 | Pano Panagia | 28.17 km | Mikko Hirvonen Mikko Hirvonen Mikko Hirvonen is a Finnish rally driver currently driving for the Citroën Total World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship. He placed third in the drivers' championship and helped Ford to the manufacturers' title in both 2006 and 2007. In 2008, 2009 and 2011, he finished runner-up to... |
30:29.8 | 0.0 km/h | ||
| SS9 | 11:19 | Orkontas | 18.54 km | Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb Sébastien Loeb is a French rally driver currently driving for the Citroën World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship... |
18:36.5 | 0.0 km/h | ||
| SS10 | 15:17 | Xyliatos | 30.94 km | Petter Solberg Petter Solberg Petter "Hollywood" Solberg , from Spydeberg in Østfold, Norway, is a professional rally driver. He debuted in the World Rally Championship in 1998 and was signed by the Ford factory team in 1999... |
28:16.1 | 0.0 km/h | ||
| SS11 | 16:20 | Kourdali | 26.25 km | Petter Solberg Petter Solberg Petter "Hollywood" Solberg , from Spydeberg in Østfold, Norway, is a professional rally driver. He debuted in the World Rally Championship in 1998 and was signed by the Ford factory team in 1999... |
26:31.5 | 0.0 km/h | ||
| 3 (15 MAR) |
SS12 | 09:18 | Foini | 30.03 km | Mikko Hirvonen Mikko Hirvonen Mikko Hirvonen is a Finnish rally driver currently driving for the Citroën Total World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship. He placed third in the drivers' championship and helped Ford to the manufacturers' title in both 2006 and 2007. In 2008, 2009 and 2011, he finished runner-up to... |
26:18.7 | 0.0 km/h | |
| SS13 | 10:49 | Anadiou | 40.54 km | Mikko Hirvonen Mikko Hirvonen Mikko Hirvonen is a Finnish rally driver currently driving for the Citroën Total World Rally Team in the World Rally Championship. He placed third in the drivers' championship and helped Ford to the manufacturers' title in both 2006 and 2007. In 2008, 2009 and 2011, he finished runner-up to... |
39:27.2 | 0.0 km/h | ||
| SS14 | 12:02 | Anadiou Dam 2 | 11.70 km |  Matthew WilsonMatthew Wilson Matthew Wilson is an English rally driver from Cockermouth in Cumbria. He is the son of M-Sport boss and former WRC driver Malcolm Wilson. Wilson currently competes in the World Rally Championship for the Stobart M-Sport Ford team... |
10:14.8 | 0.0 km/h | ||