Nicosia - Rally fans turned out in droves to see defending Middle East Rally Champion Nasser Al-Attiyah take the overnight lead in the 2010 FxPro Cyprus Rally.

After a Ceremonial Start in Limassol, the action moved to a spectacular Super Special Stage created for the event within the town’s extensive port facility – a stage which the Qatari won in emphatic style.

Al-Attiyah takes the early overall event lead, storming through the purpose-built, 2.45km, all-asphalt stage in his Ford Fiesta S2000 in an impressive time of just 2’21.7.

2nd-fastest through the stage was Norway’s Andreas Mikkelsen, with Czech Jaromin Tarabus in 3rd.