Motorsport in Cyprus: the Cyprus Rally, Karting and How to Take Part

Motorsport in Cyprus is mostly about rallying. The Cyprus Rally, run on twisty gravel roads in the hills and forests since 1970, is the big event of the year, and its organiser lists the 52nd edition with a ceremonial start at Larnaca's Foinikoudes on Friday 23 October 2026. Below that sits a national rally championship run by local clubs, and a karting scene centred on Daytona Raceway near Nicosia.

This guide covers how to watch the rally, where to go karting, who runs the sport and how to get started yourself.

What is the Cyprus Rally?

The Cyprus Rally has been held almost every year since 1970 and is organised by the Cyprus Automobile Association (CAA). It has a long international history:

When it returned to the WRC in 2009 it was the only mixed-surface event on the calendar. Today it is mainly a gravel rally, known for narrow, rocky mountain roads and high tyre wear in the autumn heat.

Recent editions show the format. The 50th Cyprus Rally in October 2023 was based in Nicosia, with a ceremonial start in Eleftheria Square and a service park opposite the Police headquarters in Aglantzia. It ran 12 mainly gravel special stages, about 195 competitive kilometres, at Xyliatos, Kapouras and Kourdali on the Saturday and Yeri, Lefkara and Agios Epifanios on the Sunday. Nasser Al-Attiyah won, with Cypriot crew Christos Demosthenous and Kypros Christodoulou third. The 51st edition, from 18 to 20 October 2024, was the final round of the 2024 Middle East Rally Championship, with 20 crews from five countries.

The rally was not held in 2022, when government funding fell short, or in 2025.

When is the Cyprus Rally 2026?

The official website lists the 52nd Petrolina Cyprus Rally with:

• Ceremonial start: Friday 23 October 2026, Foinikoudes seafront, Larnaca.
• Competition: 12 gravel special stages on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October 2026.

The FIA's event page lists the 2026 Cyprus Rally as a Middle East Rally Championship round on 23–25 October 2026. Always check the official Cyprus Rally website for the final stage timetable and spectator maps before you set off.

Why was Cypriot motorsport suspended in 2025?

In September 2025 a long-running dispute between the CAA, the Cyprus Sports Organisation and the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth came to a head. The CAA said it had been removed from the Cyprus Sports Organisation's register, and on 25 September 2025 the FIA ruled that competition licences held by Cypriot nationals were no longer valid and that motorsport events in Cyprus counted as "unrecognised competitions". National events could still run, but without FIA recognition, and Cypriot crews were barred from at least one rally in Greece. The Cyprus Motorsport Federation sought permission for Cypriot drivers to compete, and the ministry wrote to the FIA asking for a solution.

We could not find an official statement on how the dispute was resolved. If you plan to compete, ask the CAA or your club what licence you need for the current season.

How can you watch the Cyprus Rally?

The ceremonial start and finish are the easiest way in: the cars line up in a town centre and you can see the crews up close; in 2023 there was also a display of historic rally cars and photos. The 2026 start is on the palm-lined Foinikoudes seafront in Larnaca; see our Larnaca guide for parking and places to eat nearby.

Watching a special stage is the real experience. Stages run on closed public and forest roads in the hills, such as the Xyliatos, Lefkara and Kapouras areas used in recent years. The organiser publishes stage maps and spectator areas before the weekend. Practical tips:

1. Arrive early. Stage roads close before the first car comes through, so check the closure times in the official timetable.
2. Stand where marshals allow. Watch from raised ground behind the official spectator areas, never on the outside of a bend or in a run-off area.
3. Bring water, a hat and sturdy shoes. Stages are on dusty, exposed hillsides with no facilities.
4. No fires and no smoking. Many stages run through state forest, and fire rules apply until the end of September and in any dry spell; see our guide to picnic sites and fire rules.
5. Follow live updates. The rally's Facebook page posts times and results during the weekend.

What other motorsport events are there in Cyprus?

• Cyprus Rally Championship. A national series of rallies run by local clubs. In 2020, for example, the Palm Trees Rally was organised by the Larnaca Motorsport Club under the auspices of the Cyprus Motorsport Federation, with the finish on Foinikoudes.
• Troodos Rally and Historic Cyprus Rally. Also listed among the CAA's events.
• Classic car tours. The Rally With No Name Cyprus Edition, created by Tuthill with the CAA, brought classic Porsche rally cars to the island in October 2026, starting from the Parklane resort in Limassol. Events like this are tours rather than races and are free to watch along the route.
• Karting championships. National karting rounds, including the IAME Series Cyprus, are held at Daytona Raceway.

Where can you go karting in Cyprus?

Daytona Raceway near Nicosia is the island's main competition kart track. It is an asphalt circuit of 1,200 metres in its championship layout, designed to CIK-FIA requirements, with three configurations from 400 to 1,200 metres and fifteen corners. The public can rent pro-karts, the track is lit for night racing, and it hosts national championship classes up to 125cc gearbox karts. It is the place to try karting as an adult, book a group event or start a junior racing career.

Leisure go-kart tracks also operate in some resort areas, mainly in summer. They are fun for a holiday afternoon, but if you want to race, Daytona is where the clubs and championships are.

How do you start racing in Cyprus?

1. Start with karting. Rental sessions teach racing lines and race craft cheaply, and many racing drivers start this way. Children can begin with junior classes; ask the track about age limits and coaching.
2. Join a club. Local motorsport clubs organise championship rounds and can explain licences, safety equipment and car rules.
3. Get a competition licence. You need one to compete in rallies and championship karting. Licences come from the national sporting authority, and because of the 2025 dispute, confirm with the CAA or your club which body issues them this season.
4. Try co-driving. Navigators are always needed in rallying, and it is a cheaper way to learn the stages.
5. Volunteer. Rallies depend on marshals and officials. Ask the organiser or a club whether they are recruiting before the next event.
6. Sort the paperwork. A rally car still needs to be legally registered, insured and roadworthy for the road sections; see our guides to the MOT test in Cyprus and bringing a car to Cyprus from the EU.

Related guides

• Living in Larnaca
• How to enjoy sport in Cyprus
• Events in Cyprus