Mayo’s Kilian Duffy had to settle for third place along with his driver Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari last weekend in Cyprus, but it was still a remarkable 10th podium finish of the year for the Mayo based co-driver. In truly imperious form, Nasser Al-Attiyah and Giovanni Bernacchini in their Ford Fiesta RRC clinched victory and a ninth Middle-East Rallying Championship in the CNP Asfalistiki Cyprus Rally 2013.
The best battle of the three day event however was between Emirati driver Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi and Qatari, Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari, who entered Sunday’s final eight stages with only 1.6 seconds separating them.
Al-Kuwari, who as usual had Mayo’s Killian Duffy navigating, suffered a puncture early on the final day. Determined, the pair promised to drive flat-out in the afternoon and that is exactly what they did. Unfortunately for Seashore Ford Fiesta crew they came within four seconds of Al Qassimi and had to settle for third, which is the same position they currently hold in the Middle-East Rallying Championship.
The result adds to an amazing tally for Duffy in 2013. Twelve rally starts, resulting in 10 podium finishes.
