October has been a very exciting month for sports in Greece and Cyprus . The Champions League brought Chelsea to Nicosia last week, where they played APOEL and not to forget the Olympiacos – Arsenal game. All in all, the Greeks are once more becoming internationally recognized for their sporting abilities in tennis, basketball and football. But how about motor sport?

Cyprus is no stranger to rallies, and has been home to one leg of the World Rally Championships for many years. In March 2009, Limassol hosted the FXPro Cyprus Rally, part of the WRC. This weekend (9^th – 11^th October) the roar of rally cars returns, and no, not in the form of teenage boys descending from the villages with their ‘fully loaded’ engines and exhausts. The anticipated Troodos Rally has finally arrived and marks the 5^th round of this year’s FIA Middle East Rally Championship. Needless to say, the Troodos Rally is one of the most popular events in the championship, promising to keep spectators entertained with its’ fast and challenging stages. The event’s central base will be in Geroskipou, close to Paphos. If you are around, make sure you catch the ceremonial start and finish, in the town’s central square.

With only two rounds of the Middle East Championship left after Troodos, driver’s will be doing whatever it takes to gain maximum points, so you can expect to see some serious speed and a perhaps some spectacular collisions (though we prefer the former). Qatar ’s Nasser Al-Attiyah is the reigning champion of the Troodos Rally, having won the title here 6 consecutive times. Maybe that will change this year. But why is it we rarely hear of Cypriot talent in this sport? You’ve heard of Marcos Baghdatis, Cyprus ’s internationally known sportsman. Now, meet another one, Nicos Thomas.

Born in Limassol, Nicos is a far cry from your average Cypriot 21 year old. That said, it is hard to believe he turns just 22 this month. At the age of 19 he entered his first rally event, and won it. Not bad at all, and it looks like things are only going upwards for this promising young talent, who seems to be collecting titles faster than a Bugatti Veyron changes direction. In 2008 he won the Cyprus Rally, part of the Middle East Championship, which was undoubtedly a massive career highlight, as well as victories in other local and regional events. Perhaps it has something to do with genetics, after all, his father was also a rally driver. This year, he was announced as one of the five Pirelli Star Drivers, a highly sought after and prestigious scheme which takes five young drivers and gives them the chance to compete in a series of six FIA World Rally Championship events. When he is not racing, he is busy putting together his own rally team, and if his progress so far is anything to go by, it is set to be a success.

Nicos Thomas will be racing in the upcoming Troodos Rally alongside his co-driver 26 year-old Angelos Loizides this weekend. Good Luck Guys!

Make sure to check out his website: http://www.nicosthomas.com/

For more information on the Troodos Rally check out the website: http://www.caa.com.cy/sport/troodos2009/