Comline Auto Parts, the leading supplier of replacement parts for European, Japanese, and Korean passenger cars and light vans, has announced today that its inaugural sponsorship of a vehicle in the 2012 Cyprus Rally was so successful in terms of customer relations – it is set to repeat the experience in 2013.

“Business for Comline in Cyprus and the other Mediterranean countries is growing, despite the problems within the Eurozone,” explained Malcolm Rosher, Comline’s sales and marketing director. “With statistics from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) showing that Cyprus has the oldest average car parc (14.6 years), there is a great deal of opportunity and a growing demand for quality replacement parts at a fair price. Along with our Cyprus distribution partner, ‘Psaltis and Son’, we agreed that sponsoring a car in the Cyprus Rally would be a great way to promote the Comline name and brand across the island.”

The action packed weekend rally in November, saw the Comline sponsored Mitsubishi Lancer EVO IX, driven by Cyprus garage owner Costas Zenonos, finish in a respectable second place by an incredible quarter of one point. Fast, aggressive driving saw Costas and his co-driver George Alexandrou roll on the first stage. Undeterred, and thankfully unhurt, they returned to the Cyprus capital, Paphos to repair the car overnight. Returning on day two, the duo set some incredible times; as the fastest ‘local crew’, they often beat the international teams.

“Our driver, Costas is incredibly skilled and was very quick,” Malcolm added. “It was a really exciting race. Rallying is a great National sport and it seems that every garage on the island has a rally car or two. It certainly is a terrific place to go and see the cars in action in the mountains and forest. With temperatures in the region of 25 degrees, the atmosphere was fantastic.”

The Cyprus Rally became professional in 1970, when the Cyprus Automobile Association joined Rothmans of Pall Mall. It is now part of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC), a major international rally series which sees a number of drivers and manufacturers compete in high profile, two-day motorsports events in countries across the globe. The 2012 IRC consisted of 13 rounds. These rounds are made up of a variety of gravel and asphalt (tarmac) rallies. Thirty nine entrants took place in the Cyprus Rally, which was a ‘mixed surface’ event, combining both gravel and asphalt special stages.