2006 Cyprus Rally

Last updated
2006 Cyprus Rally
34th Cyprus Rally
Round 12 of 16 in the 2006 World Rally Championship
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Chris Atkinson - 2006 Cyprus Rally.jpg
Chris Atkinson on SS4
Host countryFlag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus
Rally base Lemesos
Dates run22 – 24 September 2006
Stages21 (322.51 km; 200.40 miles) [1]
Stage surface Gravel
Transport distance830.02 km (515.75 miles)
Overall distance1,152.53 km (716.15 miles)
Statistics
Crews registered40
Crews40 at start, 27 at finish
Overall results
Overall winner Flag of France.svg Sébastien Loeb
Flag of Monaco.svg Daniel Elena
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Kronos Citroën World Rally Team
4:40:50.4

The 2006 Cyprus Rally was a motor racing event for rally cars that was held over three days between 22 and 24 September 2006. It marked the 34th running of the Cyprus Rally, and was the twelfth round of the 2006 World Rally Championship season. [2] The event was also the sixth round of the 2006 Production World Rally Championship. The 2006 event was based in Lemesos in Cyprus and was contested over twenty one special stages, covering a total competitive distance of 337.79km (209.89 miles).

Contents

Sebastien Loeb, along with Kronos Citroën World Rally Team were the defending rally winners, leading championship rival Marcus Grönholm by 33 points. Unbeknownst to Loeb, this would be his last rally of the season before breaking his arm in a mountain biking incident. [3] Despite this, Loeb would go on to win the championship by 1 point after his lead became unassailable in the 2006 Rally Australia.

Loeb and co-driver Daniel Elena won the rally, their second consecutive win and eighth win of the season. [4]

Background

Entry List

The following crews were set to enter the rally. The event was open to crews competing in the World Rally Championship and its support category, the Production World Rally Championship, as well as privateer entries that were not registered to score points in the manufacturer's championship. Fifteen were entered under World Rally Car regulations, as were ten in the Production WRC category. [5]

World Rally Car entries competing in the World Rally Championship
No.DriverCo-DriverEntrantCarTyre
1 Flag of France.svg Sebastien Loeb Flag of Monaco.svg Daniel Elena Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Kronos Citroën World Rally Team Citroën Xsara WRC BF
2 Flag of Spain.svg Dani Sordo Flag of Spain.svg Marc Martí Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Kronos Citroën World Rally Team Citroën Xsara WRC BF
3 Flag of Finland.svg Marcus Gronholm Flag of Finland.svg Timo Rautiainen Flag of the United Kingdom.svg BP Ford World Rally Team Ford Focus RS WRC 06 BF
4 Flag of Finland.svg Mikko Hirvonen Flag of Finland.svg Jarmo Lehtinen Flag of the United Kingdom.svg BP Ford World Rally Team Ford Focus RS WRC 06 BF
5 Flag of Norway.svg Petter Solberg Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Phil Mills Flag of Japan.svg Subaru World Rally Team Impreza WRC 2006 P
6 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Chris Atkinson Flag of Australia (converted).svg Glenn Macneall Flag of Japan.svg Subaru World Rally Team Impreza WRC 2006 P
7 Flag of Austria.svg Manfred Stohl Flag of Austria.svg Ilka Minor Flag of Norway.svg OMV Peugeot Norway World Rally Team Peugeot 307 WRC BF
8 Flag of Norway.svg Henning Solberg Flag of Norway.svg Cato Menkerud Flag of Norway.svg OMV Peugeot Norway World Rally Team Peugeot 307 WRC BF
9 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Matthew Wilson Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Michael Orr Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team Ford Focus RS WRC 04 BF
10 Flag of Argentina.svg Luis Perez Companc Flag of Argentina.svg Jose Maria Volta Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team Ford Focus RS WRC 04 BF
11 Flag of Finland.svg Harri Rovanperä Flag of Finland.svg Risto Pietiläinen Flag of Austria.svg Red Bull Škoda Team Škoda Fabia WRC BF
12 Flag of Austria.svg Andreas Aigner Flag of Germany.svg Klaus Wicha Flag of Austria.svg Red Bull Škoda Team Škoda Fabia WRC BF
Group N entries competing in the Production WRC
No.DriverCo-DriverEntrantCar
31 Flag of Japan.svg Toshihiro Arai Flag of New Zealand.svg Tony Sircombe Flag of Japan.svg Subaru Team Arai Subaru Impreza WRX STI
33 Flag of Japan.svg Fumio Nutahara Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Daniel Barritt Flag of Japan.svg Advan-Piaa Rally Team Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
39 Flag of Qatar.svg Nasser Al-Attiyah Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Chris Patterson Flag of Qatar.svg QMMF Subaru Impreza WRX STI
40 Flag of Italy.svg Simone Campedelli Flag of Italy.svg Danilo Fappani Flag of Italy.svg Errani Team Group Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII
41 Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Khalid Al-Qassimi Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Nicky Beech Flag of Japan.svg Subaru Team Quasys Subaru Impreza WRX STI
43 Flag of Germany.svg Aaron Burkart Flag of Germany.svg Tanja Geilhausen Flag of Austria.svg OMV CEE World Rally Team Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII
45 Flag of Finland.svg Aki Teiskonen Flag of Finland.svg Miikka Anttila Flag of Japan.svg Syms Rally Team Subaru Impreza WRX STI
46 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Nigel Heath Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Steve Lancaster Flag of the United Kingdom.svg PSM Motorsport Subaru Impreza WRX STI
59 Flag of Cyprus.svg Andreas Tsouloftas Flag of Cyprus.svg Savvas Laos Flag of Cyprus.svg Andreas Tsouloftas Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
60 Flag of Cyprus.svg Spyros Pavlides Flag of Cyprus.svg Theodoros Vassiliades Flag of Cyprus.svg Spyros Pavlides Subaru Impreza WRX STI
Other major entries
No.DriverCo-DriverEntrantCar
14 Flag of Finland.svg Toni Gardemeister Flag of Finland.svg Jakke Honkanen Flag of Italy.svg Astra Racing Citroën Xsara WRC
15 Flag of Spain.svg Xavier Pons Flag of Spain.svg Carlos del Barrio Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Kronos Racing Citroën Xsara WRC
17 Flag of Argentina.svg Juan Pablo Raies Flag of Argentina.svg Jorge Perez Companc Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team Ford Focus RS WRC 04

Itinerary

All dates and times are EEST (UTC+3).

DateNo.Time spanStage nameDistance
22 SeptemberSS1After 9:43Xyliatos 18.09 km
SS2After 10:04Kaspouras 110.17 km
SS3After 10:37Asinou 125.61 km
SS4After 12:05Kato Amiantos 111.87 km
Icon tools.svg 13:20Service A, Lemesos —
SS5After 15:03Xyliantos 28.09 km
SS6After 15:24Kaspouras 210.17 km
SS7After 15:57Asinou 225.61 km
SS8After 17:25Kato Amiantos 211.87 km
Icon tools.svg 18:20Service B, Lemesos —
23 September Icon tools.svg 7:45Service C, Lemesos —
SS9After 8:38Kellaki 19.49 km
SS10After 9:16Akrounta 17.99 km
SS11After 10:34Foini 130.33 km
SS12After 11:32Galatareia 113.33 km
Icon tools.svg 13:12Service D, Lemesos —
SS13After 14:25Kellaki 29.49 km
SS14After 15:03Akrounta 27.99 km
SS15After 16:21Foini 230.33 km
SS16After 17:19Galatareia 213.33 km
Icon tools.svg 18:39Service E, Lemesos —
24 September Icon tools.svg 7:41Service F, Lemesos —
SS17After 8:54Vavatsinia 125.24 km
SS18After 9:52Machairas 112.94 km
SS19After 10:35Lageia28.55 km
Icon tools.svg 11:42Service G, Lemesos —
SS20After 12:35Down Town3.40 km
Icon tools.svg 12:55Service H, Lemesos —
SS21After 14:03Vavatsinia 225.24 km
SS22After 14:56Machairas 212.94 km
Icon tools.svg 16:27Service I, Lemesos —
Source: [6]

Report

Overall

Summary

Friday began with multiple drivers suffering from issues. Gronholm struggled with dust in the car and overheating issues, but would still set the quickest opening three stage times of the day, putting him in the lead. Loeb was not too far behind, hindered by being the first on the road. Petter Solberg suffered from numerous issues including a puncture, brake issues, and overheating, but still managed to put in the fastest time in stage 4. [7] His poor luck would continue, however, as he would have gear issues on the next few stages. Sordo, Gardemeister, and Wilson also suffered from serious mechanical issues. By the end of the day, Gronholm continued to lead, but Loeb had cut heavily into his advantage. [8]

Saturday morning would see Gronholm and Loeb trading stage wins, with under 10 seconds between them for the entirety of the stint. The pair were over two and a half minutes quicker than Hirvonen in third by the time they reached the mid-day service. [9] The afternoon, however, would be a dominant performance by Loeb, who took the lead and ended the day with over 20 seconds in hand. Gronholm blamed his struggles on a poor tyre choice. Atkinson would retire in a ditch in stage 15, while Henning Solberg struggled all day with a hot water leak spraying on he and his co-driver's face. [10]

On Friday, Loeb would continue to extend his advantage over Gronholm, and while the Finn would take some time back in stages 18 and 19, he admitted that he believed the rally to be lost by Service G. [11] Due to spectator concerns, Stage 20 would be cancelled, replaced by a simple demonstration through the streets. Despite this, Sordo would crash heavily in the stage, requiring extensive cleanup. This would result in Stage 21 being cancelled as well, but only after the Fords of Wilson and Companc had passed through, necessitating nominal times. Loeb would continue through the final stage to win the rally, his last victory of the season, with Gronholm finishing second. Loeb's victory would extend his championship lead to 35 points, with only 40 points available in the remaining rounds. Hirvonen would finish a distant 3rd, over five minutes behind Loeb. Petter Solberg would finish behind his brother Henning after striking a rock in the final stage. [12]

Classification

PositionNo.DriverCo-driverEntrantCarTimeDifferencePoints
EventClass
111 Flag of France.svg Sebastien Loeb Flag of Monaco.svg Daniel Elena Kronos Racing Citroën Xsara WRC 4:40:50.40.010
223 Flag of Finland.svg Marcus Grönholm Flag of Finland.svg Timo Rautiainen BP Ford World Rally Team Ford Focus RS WRC 06 4:41:11.6+21.28
334 Flag of Finland.svg Mikko Hirvonen Flag of Finland.svg Jarmo Lehtinen BP Ford World Rally Team Ford Focus RS WRC 06 4:46:06.5+5:16.16
447 Flag of Austria.svg Manfred Stohl Flag of Austria.svg Ilka Minor OMV Peugeot Norway World Rally Team Peugeot 307 WRC 4:47:30.1+6:39.75
5514 Flag of Finland.svg Toni Gardemeister Flag of Finland.svg Jakke Honkanen Astra Racing Citroën Xsara WRC 4:49:30.8+8:40.44
668 Flag of Norway.svg Henning Solberg Flag of Norway.svg Cato Menkerud OMV Peugeot Norway World Rally Team Peugeot 307 WRC 4:55:30.4+14:40.03
7715 Flag of Spain.svg Xavier Pons Flag of Spain.svg Carlos Del Barrio Kronos Racing Citroën Xsara WRC 4:55:37.1+14:46.72
885 Flag of Norway.svg Petter Solberg Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Phil Mills Subaru World Rally Team Subaru Impreza WRC 4:56:11.9+15:21.51
996 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Chris Atkinson Flag of Australia (converted).svg Glenn MacNeall Subaru World Rally Team Subaru Impreza WRC 4:58:05.4+17:15.00
10109 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Matthew Wilson Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Michael Orr Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team Ford Focus RS WRC 04 5:06:11.4+25:21.00
141110 Flag of Argentina.svg Luis Perez Companc Flag of Argentina.svg Jose Maria Volta Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team Ford Focus RS WRC 04 5:20:51.3+40:00.90
Retired SS212 Flag of Spain.svg Dani Sordo Flag of Spain.svg Marc Marti Kronos Citroën World Rally Team Citroën Xsara WRC Accident0
Retired SS1817 Flag of Argentina.svg Juan Pablo Raies Flag of Argentina.svg Jorge Perez Companc Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team Ford Focus RS WRC 04 Co-Driver Ill0
Retired SS211 Flag of Finland.svg Harri Rovanperä Flag of Finland.svg Risto Pietiläinen Red Bull Škoda Team Škoda Fabia WRC Electrical0
Retired SS212 Flag of Austria.svg Andreas Aigner Flag of Germany.svg Klaus Wicha Red Bull Škoda Team Škoda Fabia WRC Electrical0

Special Stages

All dates and times are EEST (UTC+3).

DayStageTimeNameLength (km)WinnerTimeRally leader
1
(22 Sep)		SS109:43Xyliatos 18.90 Flag of Finland.svg Marcus Grönholm 7:43.3 Flag of Finland.svg Marcus Grönholm
SS210:04Kaspouras 110.17 Flag of Finland.svg Marcus Grönholm 9:14.1
SS310:37Asinou 125.61 Flag of Finland.svg Marcus Grönholm 26:52.4
SS412:05Kato Amiantos 111.86 Flag of Norway.svg Petter Solberg 9:33.4
SS515:03Xyliatos 28.90 Flag of Finland.svg Marcus Grönholm 7:26.5
SS615:24Kaspouras 210.17 Flag of France.svg Sébastien Loeb 8:56.4
SS715:57Asinou 225.61 Flag of France.svg Sébastien Loeb 26:07.1
SS817:25Kato Amiantos 211.86 Flag of France.svg Sébastien Loeb 9:26.8
2
(23 Sep)		SS908:38Kellaki 19.48 Flag of Finland.svg Marcus Grönholm 8:01.4
SS1009:16Akrounta 17.98 Flag of Finland.svg Marcus Grönholm 7:44.9
SS1110:34Foini 130.32 Flag of France.svg Sébastien Loeb 26:20.8
SS1211:32Galatareia 113.32 Flag of France.svg Sébastien Loeb 8:17.8
SS1314:25Kellaki 29.48 Flag of France.svg Sébastien Loeb 8:01.7
SS1415:03Akrounta 27.98 Flag of France.svg Sébastien Loeb 7:35.4 Flag of France.svg Sébastien Loeb
SS1516:21Foini 230.32 Flag of France.svg Sébastien Loeb 25:56.1
SS1617:19Galatareia 213.32 Flag of France.svg Sébastien Loeb 8:09.7
3
(24 Sep)		SS1708:54Vavatsinia 125.23 Flag of France.svg Sébastien Loeb 22:24.1
SS1809:52Machairas 112.93 Flag of Finland.svg Marcus Grönholm 10:56.6
SS1910:35Lageia8.98 Flag of Finland.svg Marcus Grönholm 7:21.6
SS2012:35Down Town3.40Stage Cancelled
SS2114:03Vavatsinia 225.23 Flag of France.svg Sébastien Loeb 23:19.8
SS2214:56Machairas 212.93 Flag of Finland.svg Marcus Grönholm 10:48.8

Championship Standings

Pos.Drivers' ChampionshipManufacturers' Championship
MoveDriverPointsMoveManufacturerPoints
1 1rightarrow blue.svg Flag of France.svg Sébastien Loeb 112 1rightarrow blue.svg Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Kronos Citroën World Rally Team 142
2 1rightarrow blue.svg Flag of Finland.svg Marcus Gronholm 77 1rightarrow blue.svg Flag of the United Kingdom.svg BP Ford World Rally Team 135
3 1rightarrow blue.svg Flag of Spain.svg Dani Sordo 41 1rightarrow blue.svg Flag of Japan.svg Subaru World Rally Team 79
4 1rightarrow blue.svg Flag of Spain.svg Mikko Hirvonen 39 1rightarrow blue.svg Flag of Norway.svg OMV Peugeot Norway World Rally Team 59
5 1rightarrow blue.svg Flag of Austria.svg Manfred Stohl 33 1rightarrow blue.svg Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team 30

Production WRC

Classification

PositionNo.DriverCo-driverEntrantCarTimeDifferencePoints
EventClass
11133 Flag of Japan.svg Fumio Nutahara Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Daniel Barritt Advan-Piaa Rally Team Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 5:10:43.30.010
12245 Flag of Finland.svg Aki Teiskonen Flag of Finland.svg Miikka Anttila Syms Rally Team Subaru Impreza WRX STI 5:15:00.8+4:17.58
13341 Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Khalid Al-Qassimi Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Nicky Beech Subaru Team Quasys Subaru Impreza WRX STI 5:16:42.5+5:59.26
15440 Flag of Italy.svg Simone Campedelli Flag of Italy.svg Danilo Fappani Errani Team Group Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII 5:22:14.4+11:31.15
19539 Flag of Qatar.svg Nasser Al-Attiyah Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Chris Patterson QMMF Subaru Impreza WRX STI 5:34:48.3+24:05.04
22631 Flag of Japan.svg Toshihiro Arai Flag of New Zealand.svg Tony Sircombe Subaru Team Arai Subaru Impreza WRX STI 5:43:47.9+33:04.63
Retired SS1560 Flag of Cyprus.svg Spyros Pavlides Flag of Cyprus.svg Theodoros Vassiliades Spyros Pavlides Subaru Impreza WRX STI Mechanical0
Retired SS1143 Flag of Germany.svg Aaron Burkart Flag of Germany.svg Tanja Geilhausen OMV CEE World Rally Team Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII Accident0
Retired SS559 Flag of Cyprus.svg Andreas Tsouloftas Flag of Cyprus.svg Savvas Laos Andreas Tsouloftas Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX Excluded0
Retired SS446 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Nigel Heath Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Steve Lancaster PSM Motorsport Subaru Impreza WRX STI Mechanical0

Championship Standings

Pos.Drivers' Championship
MoveDriverPoints
1 1rightarrow blue.svg Flag of Qatar.svg Nasser Al-Attiyah 38
2 1rightarrow blue.svg Flag of Japan.svg Fumio Nutahara 30
3 1rightarrow blue.svg Flag of San Marino.svg Mirco Baldacci 19
= 1uparrow green.svg 3 Flag of Finland.svg Aki Teiskonen 19
5 1rightarrow blue.svg Flag of Japan.svg Toshihiro Arai 18

References

  1. ↑ https://www.ewrc-results.com/timetable/12-cyprus-rally-2006/
  2. ↑ Shacki. "Season 2006 rally - eWRC-results". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
  3. ↑ "Loeb to miss Rally of Turkey after breaking arm". ESPN.com. 2006-09-27. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
  4. ↑ Shacki. "Final results Cyprus Rally 2006". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
  5. ↑ Shacki. "Entry list Cyprus Rally 2006". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
  6. ↑ https://www.ewrc-results.com/timetable/12-cyprus-rally-2006/
  7. ↑ Beer, Matt (2006-09-22). "Gronholm leads opening morning". Autosport. Retrieved 2025-03-10.
  8. ↑ Beer, Matt (2006-09-22). "Major problems for Solberg". Autosport. Archived from the original on 2024-10-08. Retrieved 2025-03-10.
  9. ↑ Freeman, Glenn (2006-09-23). "Gronholm narrowly extends lead". Autosport. Archived from the original on 2024-10-08. Retrieved 2025-03-10.
  10. ↑ Freeman, Glenn (2006-09-23). "Loeb takes control of Cyprus rally". Autosport. Retrieved 2025-03-10.
  11. ↑ Beer, Matt (2006-09-24). "Loeb extends his advantage". Autosport. Archived from the original on 2024-10-10. Retrieved 2025-03-10.
  12. ↑ Beer, Matt (2006-09-24). "Loeb closes on title with Cyprus win". Autosport. Archived from the original on 2024-10-10. Retrieved 2025-03-10.
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2006 Rally Japan 		FIA World Rally Championship,
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2006 Rally of Turkey
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