Qatar’s Abdulaziz Al Kuwari has secured his first FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC) title on October 20, with his compatriot Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah claiming his 9th overall victory at the prestigious event. Al Kuwari and his co-driver Nasser Al Kuwari finished third at the Cyprus Rally in their Skoda Fabia RS to clinch the title. The Qatari driver headed to Cyprus with a comfortable lead and only needed to finish the rally to become the fifth Qatari driver to win the MERC title.
Meanwhile, Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah, a five-time Dakar Rally winner, missed out on his record-extending 20th MERC crown but finished in second place in the MERC standings. Al Attiyah, partnered with Italian navigator Giovanni Bernacchini, dominated the 12-stage event, completing the Rally with a total time of 2:47:00.0. Local favorite Panayiotis Yiangou and his co-driver Aristos Nicolaou secured second place in their Hyundai i20 R5, finishing +8:19.3 behind Al Attiyah.
Rounding out the podium was Abdulaziz Al Kuwari, who may have finished third in the Rally but was crowned the champion of the MERC season. He had a strong season, finishing fourth in the Qatar International Rally in February and coming in second behind Al Attiyah at the Jordan Rally in May. Cyprus drivers Petros Panteli and Charalambous Laos finished fourth overall in their Renault Clio Rally3, while Qatar’s Rashid Al Muhannadi and Jordanian navigator Ata Al Hmoud completed the top five in their Skoda Fabia RS.
The 51st Cyprus International Rally marked the end of the MERC season, as the Oman Rally scheduled for November has been canceled. The season saw only three out of five rallies being run, with the Cyprus Rally serving as the finale. With Al Kuwari and Al Attiyah putting on impressive performances, Qatar had a strong showing in the MERC season, with an all-Qatari podium in the final standings. The championship win for Al Kuwari cements his status as one of the top rally drivers in the Middle East.
In conclusion, the Cyprus International Rally was a thrilling conclusion to the MERC season, with Al Kuwari claiming his maiden title and Al Attiyah adding another victory to his impressive career record. The event showcased the talent and skill of the drivers, with competitive performances throughout the Rally. The cancellation of the Oman Rally did not dampen the excitement of the season finale, as fans witnessed some exceptional rallying action in Cyprus. Qatar’s dominance in the MERC standings was evident, with Al Kuwari and Al Attiyah leading the charge for their country. Overall, the 51st Cyprus International Rally was a fitting end to a challenging but rewarding MERC season.
