Russian driver Alexey Lukyanuk has placed a strong bid for a CNP ASFALISTIKI Cyprus Rally 2016 victory and for securing the second place in the European Rally Championship driver standings.

After winning the qualifying stage, Lukyanuk chose to start from the first position.

“The plan is easy we should be the fastest and at the same time drive safe,” said Lukyanuk in the post-qualifying stage press conference at the CNP ASFALISTIKI Cyprus Rally press centre, noting that he has some experience from his participation in last year`s CNP ASFALISTIKI Cyprus Rally.

Germany`s Marijan Griebel said he enjoys driving the four wheel drive Skoda Fabia for the first time. “It will be good to finish the race to get as much experience as possible. Surely I will not hide and Alexey (Lukyanuk) and Ralfs (Sirmacis) will be really fast and uncatchable for me but everything else is possible. So I think top five will be possible and anything better would be great,” he stated.

Greek driver Lambros Athanassoulas, who will have his maiden rally competition on board a Ford Fiesta R5, said he is still adapting to driving the Fiesta R5. “The first priority for us is to stay on the road because it was an honour to be here at the invitation of the organisers and so we should stay on the road and be on the podium if we can, for Greece and for Cyprus.”

On behalf of top placed Cypriot driver Christos Demosthenous, co-driver Pampos Laos said he wants to achieve the top Cypriot crew honours as in 2014 and 2015.

“This is the objective, we went very well today, we believe in our capabilities. There are very worthy opponents as far as the local championship is concerned. We will try to prevail to move closer to the national title because we had some bad luck this year and we lag behind. Moreover we would like to have a good result in the Love Cyprus Golden Stage”.