52nd Cyprus International Rally to decide Middle East championship title

The 52nd Cyprus International Rally is taking place from October 23 to 25, 2026, serving as the fifth and final round of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship. Organized by the Cyprus Automobile Association, the event hosts 30 crews from eight countries and will determine the ultimate winner of the regional championship title.

Nasser Al-Attiyah from Qatar enters the race as the standings leader with 70 points, driving a Škoda Fabia in pursuit of another championship win. His closest rivals include 22-year-old Saudi driver Hamza Bakhashab (66 points), Nasser Khalifa Al-Atya (61 points), and 2024 champion Abdullah Al-Rawahi (56 points). The competition also features top Cypriot drivers, including Simos Galatariotis and Panagiotis Yiangou, who will contend for victory in the local stages.

The rally features a ceremonial start today, October 23, at 18:00 at Europe Square on the Larnaca seafront. The event concludes on Sunday, October 25, at 17:00 at the same location, where the official crowning of the Middle East champion will take place following the finish ceremony.