The stage is set for a thrilling finale to the 2024 FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC) as the Cyprus Rally, taking place from 18-20 October, determines who will take the coveted championship crown. This year’s series was reshaped by geopolitical challenges, with the Rally of Lebanon canceled and Oman pulling the plug on the season’s originally planned finale. As a result, the championship battle now comes to an exciting conclusion in Nicosia.
Al-Kuwari leads the charge for a maiden title
With only six drivers registered for MERC points at the Cyprus Rally, three are still in the running for the ultimate prize. Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari of Qatar currently leads the standings, holding a 12-point cushion over Jordan’s Shaker Jweihan and a 14-point edge over the 19-time MERC champion, Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah.
For Al-Kuwari, a fourth-place finish or higher – alongside Power Stage points – will secure his first-ever MERC title. However, with rallying’s unpredictable nature, any mistake could leave the door open for Al-Attiyah. A win in Cyprus and maximum points from the Power Stage would hand Al-Attiyah his record 20th championship. Meanwhile, Jweihan could snatch the crown if disaster strikes both of his rivals, building on his already secured MERC2 title.
A season of surprises and drama
The 2023 season offered its share of drama, highlighted by the unprecedented tie between Al-Attiyah and Abdullah Al-Rawahi in last year’s Cyprus Rally. Unable to be separated by the standard FIA tie-break rules, both drivers were declared co-champions, marking the first shared title in MERC history. Al-Rawahi, now out of contention following a rocky 2024 campaign, withdrew from Cyprus after finishing third in Qatar and retiring in Jordan.
Al-Kuwari and teammate Rashid Al-Muhannadi will pilot their Škoda Fabia R5s, run by SRT, in their push for glory. Al-Attiyah returns in his trusted Škoda Fabia, prepared by Autotek Motorsport, and will be eager to spoil Al-Kuwari’s ambitions. Meanwhile, Cyprus’s own Panayiotis Yiangou, driving a Hyundai i20 R5, could play a pivotal role in the championship’s outcome if he secures a podium finish.
Jweihan eyes historic double triumph
Jordan’s Shaker Jweihan has already locked up the MERC2 crown, but he arrives in Cyprus aiming for an ambitious double. His co-driver, Lebanon’s Carlos Hanna, also stands to claim the MERC2 Co-drivers’ title if they finish the event. Meanwhile, Lebanon’s Shadi El-Fakih and Samer Sfeir are vying for MERC4 honours in their Peugeot 208, tied on points with absent rivals Saneem Payyakal and Musa Sherif.
Co-drivers’ championship race intensifies
Nasser Al-Attiyah will be joined by seasoned Italian co-driver Giovanni Bernacchini, who enters the Cyprus Rally with a slim lead in the Co-drivers’ Championship. Bernacchini’s closest rivals – Loris Pascaud, Patrik Barth, and Marshall Clarke – are not competing, but joint defending champion Ata Al-Hmoud is. Al-Hmoud, who partners with Al-Muhannadi, is still mathematically in the title fight, trailing Bernacchini by 10 points.
Local heroes and gravel challenges await
The Cyprus Rally promises more than just a championship showdown. Local competitors like Simos Galatariotis, driving a Volkswagen Polo GTI R5, and Costas Zenonos, behind the wheel of a Citroën DS3 R5, will battle for honours in the Cyprus National Championship. The field also includes a mix of Rally3, Rally4, and Group NR4 machinery, adding to the event’s depth.
Organised by the Cyprus Automobile Association, the rally will feature 12 gravel-heavy special stages, spanning 191.20 competitive kilometres over two action-packed days. Based at the POED Building in Nicosia, competitors will kick off the rally with high stakes and intense pressure, ensuring a spectacle for fans and a fitting end to a turbulent MERC season.