Cyprus Rally 2014

This year's 2014 Cyprus Rally will make history since the island will host both the 9th round of the European Rally Championship (ERC) and Middle-East Rally Championship's (MERC) 5th round. This represents the first time a host nation has sanctioned two FIA events on the same weekend and in the same rally.

The race will be held between September 19 and 21 and will be based in Nicosia in what FIA officials say will be a gruelling, 773-kilometre trek divided into 15 special stages. The special stages themselves are this year's main ingredient, important to both crews and spectators.

The precursor to the race will get underway on September 18 with a practice stage in Ayios Sozomenos (just outside of Nicosia), which will offer 4.47 kilometre race for testing purposes. There will also be a qualifying round for drivers (mostly Cypriot) wanting to also take part in the rally.

The 2014 Cyprus Rally will also be offering a "Traffic Park" - situated next to the service park - this year for onlookers who will get the chance to meet drivers taking part in the both the ERC and MERC races.

The starting ceremony will be held on September 19 outside the Finance Ministry where drivers will navigate the winding streets of Nicosia in the Super Special Stage.

The following morning, will see the second part of the rally first leg commence with four special stages that will be then repeated during the afternoon loop, starting in the village of Kotsiatis, then Lythrodontas and Lefkara before finally coming to day's close at Klavdia which will be the final stage for the morning passes before cars head back to the service park for repairs.

September 21 will see the second leg of the rally get underway with all the crews leaving the Parc Ferme (Closed Park for rally cars) once again and head for Tseri, followed by Asinou and then the forest area of Xerarkaka.

The rally stage will be repeated three times before returning to Nicosia in the afternoon for the ceremonial finish.