Press Release

Seventy eight cars started the 25th Cyprus Rally, the penultimate coefficent 20
round of the European Championship, in Nicosia on Friday 26 September. 
 
At the end of the first Leg, Krzsztof Holowczyc, driving the Stomil Olsztyn-Mobil 1
Rally Team Subaru Impreza 555 had a lead of 42 seconds over Finn Tony Gardemeister
in the Astra Team's Lancia Delta HF. Serguey Baldykov of Russia driving the
Gazprom Ford Escort RS Cosworth was in third place, a further 29 second adrift.

Greek champion Leonidas Kirkos in the Ford Escort WRC was fourth, after picking
up a 10 second road penalty before SS1.

Jindrich Stolfa, driving the Czech National Team's Skoda Felicia was leading
Formula 2 and in fifth place overall.

The remaining 71  will set out on Leg II at 0730 on Saturday 27 September.