The EKO Acropolis Rally Greece delivered a masterclass in why it is famously known as the “Rally of Gods” — and the graveyard of mechanical parts. Featuring extreme temperatures, sharp rock-strewn gravel paths, and unforgiving mountain passes, this round pushed cars, tires, and mechanical grit to the absolute limit.
Here is the day-by-day breakdown of how the rally was won, lost, and survived.
Day 1: The Mountain Firefight
The rally kicked off with heavy drama right from the morning loops. Adrien Fourmaux charged hard early on, showcasing blistering pace in his car to snatch the lead. However, the brutal Greek gravel didn’t take long to claim its first victims.
- Tire Torture: Fourmaux’s spell at the front was cut short during the Friday morning loop when he suffered severe tire damage, forcing an agonizing delay and knocking him out of the immediate lead battle.
- Mechanical Blues: Meanwhile, championship frontrunner Elfyn Evans faced the dreaded task of opening the road, sweeping loose gravel for the cars behind. His day worsened exponentially as technical gremlins cost him massive chunks of time.
Sébastien Ogier capitalized perfectly on the chaos, driving with trademark mechanical sympathy to manage his rubber while maintaining a lethal pace.
Standings after Day 1
Pos | Driver | Team |
|---|---|---|
1 | S. Ogier | Toyota Gazoo Racing |
2 | T. Neuville | Hyundai Shell Mobis |
3 | T. Katsuta | Toyota Gazoo Racing |
Day 2: The Moving Sand Break
Saturday is traditionally the longest, most grueling leg of the Acropolis, and it lived up to its brutal reputation. The battle between Ogier and Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville intensified, turning into a high-stakes chess match of tire preservation vs. raw aggression.
- Tire Torture: Wheel changes became the theme of the afternoon. Elfyn Evans suffered yet another setback, losing minutes to a mid-stage wheel swap after a puncture. In the WRC2 support class, Andreas Mikkelsen’s steady run came to a halt on the Loutraki stage due to a flat, throwing the category wide open.
- Engine & Mechanical Failures: While outright terminal engine explosions were avoided due to the teams running conservative cooling mappings for the heat, the relentless vibrations from the rocky bedrock caused various suspension and transmission oil-pressure scares across the service park. Cars were returning to service looking heavily battered.
Ogier held his nerve, though Neuville kept him under massive pressure, lingering just a few handfuls of seconds back.
Standings after Day 2
Pos | Driver | Team |
|---|---|---|
1 | S. Ogier | Toyota Gazoo Racing |
2 | T. Neuville | Hyundai Shell Mobis |
3 | T. Katsuta | Toyota Gazoo Racing |
Day 3: The Power Stage Decider
Sunday was supposed to be a straightforward sprint to the finish, but the Acropolis always holds a final sting in its tail.
- Tire Torture: Just when it looked like Thierry Neuville was positioned to steal the victory or secure a safe second, a heartbreaking puncture struck the Belgian before SS16. The delay shattered his hopes of a win. Elfyn Evans’ weekend of tire misery also continued with a third tire-related delay on Sunday morning.
- The Big Climax: Free from Neuville’s immediate pressure, Sébastien Ogier put on an absolute clinic. Not only did he secure the overall rally victory, but he swept maximum points by topping the Super Sunday standings and winning the Wolf Power Stage.
In WRC2, Robert Virves cleanly brought his Škoda home to take a dramatic category victory after capitalizing on Mikkelsen’s Saturday misfortune.
Final Overall Rankings (End of Day 3)
Pos | Driver | Car | Time / Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | S. Ogier | Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 | 3h 46m 30.8s |
2 | T. Neuville | Hyundai i20 N Rally1 | + Various |
3 | T. Katsuta | Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 | Podium Finish |
4 | A. Fourmaux | Hyundai i20 N Rally1 | Recovery to 6th |
5 | E. Evans | Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 | 7th Overall |
The Championship Picture: Despite a weekend plagued by road-sweeping and flat tires, Elfyn Evans managed to cling to his championship lead with 158 points, though Takamoto Katsuta (151) and a surging Sébastien Ogier (125) have closed the gap significantly.
