Golden Stage Rally (Cyprus) - 6 Nov 11

CYPRUS GOLDEN STAGE RALLY JOY FOR PEUGEOT RISING STAR NEUVILLE

Posted: November 7, 2011 9:43 AM

Thierry Neuville has won the second Cyprus Golden Stage Rally following a stunning performance over both runs of the spectacular mixed-surface stage shown live on Eurosport.

Neuville underlined the pace and competitiveness of his Peugeot 207 Super 2000 by going fastest through the first run of the 19.43-kilometre test by 4.8s before heading the second run by 1.2s despite almost going off the road in his efforts to keep ahead of Juho Hanninen, who finished second, 6.0s adrift of the rising star on aggregate time.

The Team Peugeot Belgium-Luxembourg driver’s success means he pockets 40,000 Euros in prize money. Hanninen, in a factory SKODA Fabia S2000, collected 28,000 Euros with team-mate Jan Kopecky securing 16,000 Euros for finishing third.

“We go completely flat out and I really enjoyed the Golden Stage,” said Neuville, who was co-driven by fellow Belgian Nicolas Gilsoul.
“It’s a shame we lost the Cyprus Rally but we are in front again and we showed we’ve got the pace on gravel. I have to thank Peugeot Sport and Peugeot Belgium for their support in getting me here.”

Neuville completed the first run with the left-rear tyre off its rim after he clouted a bank, the result of his pacenotes being too optimistic. He was similarly spectacular on the second pass with several sideways moments.
“We pushed to the maximum when we saw that Juho was equal with us [on split times],” said Neuville. “It was a big attack but we got to the finish and I’m really happy.”

Hanninen’s car needed a replacement clutch and gearbox in service between the Golden Stage runs when the original clutch failed after the opening pass. He was gracious in defeat at the finish near the seaside town of Polis.

“It did a clean run with no mistakes,” said the Finn. “It was a difficult stage but I was happy with my time and it’s a nice way to finish the season. Thierry deserved this victory, he was very fast.”

Kopecky was third fastest through both runs alongside stand-in co-driver Pavel Dresler.
“I just wanted to finish without making mistakes so I didn’t take any big risks,” said the Czech. “It was quite hard with a new co-driver because this stage was very fast with lots of crests.”

Patrik Sandell finished fourth in his SKODA Sweden Fabia after reporting losing a few seconds on the first run by using a soft compound tyre rather than the hard compound option selected by the bulk of his rivals due to the high ambient and ground temperatures.
“I did everything I could but I had no problems and there were no mistakes,” said Sandell, who collected 10,000 Euros in prize money. “It was easy to attack too much on this stage and go too sideways.”

Karl Kruuda took fifth overall in his ME3 Rally Team Fabia. Although the Estonian teenager was frustrated not to have set a faster time on the second run he nevertheless bagged 6,000 Euros after two error-free runs alongside co-driver Martin Jarveoja.

Nicos Thomas received 10,000 Euros for winning Category B in his Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer in sixth overall. The Cypriot plans to spend part of the money paying for a replacement engine after the original broke during the Cyprus Rally when oil filter damage resulted in a complete loss of oil.

“Winning Group N is good news after the bad luck of yesterday,” said the Petrolina-backed driver. “Thanks to the guys in my team for fixing the car and to all my sponsors.”

Petros Panteli was seventh and second in Category B with Paraskevas Paraskeva eighth and third in class. Doros Loucaides was ninth after being slowed by damaged steering on his Peugeot 207 S2000. Italian Marco Cavigioli completed the top 10 in his Lancer following a determined drive.

Category C honours went to IRC 2WD Cup champion Jean-Michel Raoux in his Renault Clio R3 ahead of Honda Civic Type R duo Janos Puskadi and Andreas Charalambous.

Regretfully television viewers were not able watch the anticipated epic duel between the two young aces Thierry Neuville and Andreas Mikkelsen after SKODA UK decided to withdraw Mikkelsen’s entry after a highly emotional victory on the Cyprus Rally the previous day.

All cars contesting the Golden Stage Rally carried Colin McRae Vision windscreen strips in support of the charity established following the death of the rallying legend in 2007.

The Cyprus Golden Stage Rally is a ground-breaking concept pioneered by Eurosport Events and the Cyprus Automobile Association. It took place for the second time this year following the inaugural event in 2010. The quick-fire format over a mixed-surface stage, the Golden Stage, run twice provides all-action entertainment for fans live at the event and for those watching live on television at home. It carries a prize fund of 150,000 Euros, an amount unprecedented in international rallying.

Cyprus Golden Stage Rally overall positions after run two:
1 Thierry Neuville (BEL)/Nicolas Gilsoul (BEL) Peugeot 207 S2000 26m02.8s
2 Juho Hanninen (FIN)/Mikko Markkula (FIN) SKODA Fabia S2000 +6.0s
3 Jan Kopecky (CZE)/Pavel Dresler (CZE) SKODA Fabia S2000 +32.3s
4 Patrik Sandell (SWE)/Staffan Parmander (SWE) SKODA Fabia S2000 +48.0s
5 Karl Kruuda (EST)/Martin Jarveoja (EST) SKODA Fabia S2000 +1m01.2s
6 Nicos Thomas (CYP)/Angelos Loizides (CYP) Ralliart Lancer Evo IX +2m19.2s
7 Petros Pantelli (CYP)/Chrysostomos Panteli (CYP) Ralliart Lancer Evo IX +2m33.1s
8 Paraskevas Paraskeva (CYP)/Yiannos Evripidou (CYP) Ralliart Lancer Evo IX +2m41.6s
9 Doros Loucaides (CYP)/Savvas Laos (CYP) Peugeot 207 S2000 +3m20.4s
10 Marco Cavigioli (ITA)/Monica Fortunato (ITA) Ralliart Lancer Evo IX) +3m32.4s

Category A winners: Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul (Peugeot 207 S2000)
Category B winners: Nicos Thomas/Angelos Loizides (Ralliart Lancer Evo IX)
Category C winners: Jean-Michel Raoux (FRA)/Laurent Magat (FRA) Renault Clio R3

Cyprus Golden Stage Rally 150,000 Euros prize money allocation:
Thierry Neuville (Peugeot 207 S2000): 40,000 Euros
Juho Hanninen (SKODA Fabia S2000: 28,000 Euros
Jan Kopecky (SKODA Fabia S2000): 16,000 Euros
Jean-Michel Raoux (Renault Clio R3): 10,000 Euros
Patrik Sandell (SKODA Fabia S2000): 10,000 Euros
Nicos Thomas (Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX): 10,000 Euros
Petros Panteli (Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX): 8,000 Euros
Karl Kruuda (SKODA Fabia S2000): 6,000 Euros
Paraskevas Paraskeva (Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX): 6,000 Euros
Marco Cavigioli (Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX): 5,000 Euros
Janos Puskadi (Honda Civic Type R): 5,000 Euros
Andreas Charalambous (Honda Civic Type R): 3,000 Euros
Savvas Savva (Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX): 3,000 Euros

Golden Stage Rally set for live television coverage

Posted: October 28, 2011 3:32 PM

The Cyprus Golden Stage Rally will be shown live on television around the world when it takes place for a second time on Sunday 6 November.

Rather than covering a multiple number of stages, the Golden Stage Rally is unique in that it features one single stage, the Golden Stage, covered twice on a mixed surface route of less than 40 kilometres in length.

With drivers battling against the clock for a share of the 150,000 Euros prize fund over a challenging undulating course, the action is set to be spectacular with both runs shown live on Eurosport, Eurosport Asia-Pacific, RTBF in Belgium and Cypriot host broadcaster LTV.

The first run through will be shown from 11:00hrs-12:00hrs CET with the second following from 14:00hrs-15:00hrs CET. Eurosport Events, the organisation behind the thrilling live coverage of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, will manage the live production and will be responsible for the worldwide distribution of media and television rights.

“It’s going to be a very exciting event with thrilling action as drivers go flat out to chase the prize and the accolade of Cyprus Golden Stage Rally winner 2011,” said Jean-Pierre Nicolas, the Motorsport Development Manager of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, who helped to design the layout of the course.
“The dramatic action will be further enhanced by the tremendous live television coverage that will thrill fans around the world.”

The live television coverage of the Golden Stage Rally will require five fixed camera locations, 10 onboard cameras, a helicopter-mounted camera, a plane for transmitting the onboard camera signals, plus a team of expert personnel working on the ground in Cyprus and at Eurosport’s headquarters in Paris.

Live TV Times

Posted: October 28, 2011 3:30 PM

Times are Ireland/UK

Sunday 6 November
10:00hrs-11:00hrs: LIVE Golden Stage Rally Run 1 (Eurosport, LTV, RTBF)
13:00hrs-14:00hrs: LIVE Golden Stage Rally Run 2 (Eurosport, LTV, RFBF)
13:15hrs-14:00hrs: LIVE Golden Stage Rally Run 2 (Eurosport Asia-Pacific)

GOLDEN STAGE RALLY TO RETURN IN 2011

Posted: September 12, 2011 12:25 PM

The ground-breaking Love Cyprus Golden Stage Rally, which took place to great acclaim for the first time in 2010, will run again on Sunday 6 November, Eurosport Events and the Cyprus Automobile Association are delighted to confirm.

Rather than covering a multiple number of stages, the Golden Stage Rally is unique in that it features one single stage, the Golden Stage, run twice on a mixed surface route shown live on television around the world.

The quick-fire format will thrill fans as drivers battle against the clock for a share of the 150,000 Euros prize fund.

Promoted by Eurosport Events and organised by the CAA, the competition will take place the day after the 2011 Intercontinental Rally Challenge season concludes in Cyprus.

Francois Ribeiro, the Motorsport Business Director of Eurosport, said:
“The inaugural Golden Stage Rally proved such a success that we can’t wait for it to run again this season. We are building on the event’s success with a new route that will come alive as drivers push to the limit in pursuit of the big prize live on television.”

Antonis Michaelides, President of the CAA, said:
“Last year we broke new ground with the first ever Golden Stage Rally and created a whole new rallying experience that proved a major hit with drivers and fans alike. This year we’re set to recreate the excitement, delivering a thrill ride that will entertain motorsport fans across the world. I’m confident that the drivers will put on a terrific show once again as they ‘go for gold!’”

Extensive live television coverage
As in 2010, the Love Cyprus Golden Stage Rally will benefit from an extensive live television production managed by Eurosport Events, which has successfully pioneered live coverage of several rounds of the IRC. Eurosport Events is responsible for the distribution of the worldwide media rights (including television rights).

The Love Cyprus Golden Stage Rally will be broadcast in its entirety through Eurosport's network, reaching more than 117 million homes across 59 countries and through Eurosport Asia-Pacific on Sunday 6 November as follows:

(Irish/UK Time)
10:00hrs-11:00hrs: Live Eurosport Golden Stage Run 1 (20kms)
13:00hrs-14:00hrs: Live Eurosport Golden Stage Run 2 (20kms)

All-new route for Golden Stage
This year’s Golden Stage Rally will use an all-new mixed-surface route based around the village of Polis, 40 kilometres from Pafos in the west of Cyprus with spectacular views of the Mediterranean Sea. Leading international co-driver Denis Giraudet played a key role in designing the stage.

“The challenge was to improve the route used last year and this has been achieved with something that will be quite incredible,” said Jean-Pierre Nicolas, the IRC’s Motorsport Development Manager.

Regulations and entry forms will be published at the event’s official website shortly where regular news updates will also be available. The event will be open to all teams and drivers competing with Super 2000 (Appendix J 2010), R2, R3 and R4 cars plus Group A cars up to 2000cc in both two-wheel and four-wheel drive configuration.

Event Website

Posted: September 12, 2011 12:24 PM

Golden Stage Rally (Cyprus)

Also see:

Cyprus Rally - 3-5 Nov 11