The Petrolina Cyprus Rally returns after a one-year absence as the final round of the 2026 FIA Middle East Rally Championship, running from 23 to 25 October. The FIA lists 19 cars in the international field, with eight crews registered to score MERC points, plus 11 competitors in the national rally.
After four rounds, Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah leads on 70 points, four ahead of Saudi Arabia’s Hamza Bakhashab. Nasser Khalifa Al-Atya is third on 61, while Abdullah Al-Rawahi has 56, leaving all four with a mathematical route to the title. Al-Attiyah is seeking his 21st regional championship and arrives with 92 MERC rally victories.
The crews face 12 gravel special stages and 183.92 competitive kilometres through the Troodos mountains. The event was last held in 2024; Cyprus did not host a MERC round in 2025.