The Koilinia Special Stage was longest stage of the IRC Cyprus Rally at 24.15km long, comprising a mix of 36% tarmac and 64% gravel.
The Koilinia Special Stage winds down from the village of Koilinia, passes through the deserted village of Vretsia to continue through Paphos Forest on an undulating, loose track before splashing through the river near the Kelefos Bridge. It then climbs up a tightly winding road to end near Agios Nikolaos.
This stage seems to figure in every rally in Cyprus, the poplar photography locations being Vretsia and of course the water splash near the Kelefos Bridge. The problem is the stage is long and the access difficult.
On top of that, I was up against time so took the easy option, driving to Koilinia to the start of the stage and hoofing it from there.
To compound matters, the stage is in a deep valley so the sun disappears behind the hills surprisingly early, especially in November.
I found a place – the very spot where Juho Hänninen had left the road and rolled his Skoda Fabia out of the rally in the morning.
With that knowledge in mind, it fascinated me how many spectators were standing in that very spot. I guess they were working on the principle lightning doesn’t strike the same place twice.
Check out the pictures at IRC Cyprus Rally 2011 – SS4 Koilinia 2 or watch the video below.
