Dust, Rocks and Drama

 After the festive atmosphere of the ceremonial start at Zappeion Hall, the WRC contenders were brought back to reality - the tough reality of Greek gravel. Friday became a true test of endurance, a classic Acropolis marathon reminiscent of past days.

Beginning in Loutraki and ending in Lamia, the route required much more than just speed. Strategy, racecraft, and experience proved essential on a day when punctures were nearly unavoidable for most crews.

Only a few drivers came through the six gruelling stages unscathed. Ott Tanak, despite struggling with his Hyundai i20 N Rally1 in the tighter sections, found speed in the afternoon and finished the day in top position. Just 3.5 seconds behind him, teammate Adrien Fourmaux capitalised on a favourable road position and managed to overtake Sebastien Ogier.

The eight-time World Champion showed impressive form in his Toyota GR Yaris Rally1. Despite starting second on the road, he posted stage-winning times and remains firmly in contention, just 17 seconds behind the leader.

Elfyn Evans, who was first on the road, lost valuable time but still remains in fourth place - a commendable result considering the conditions. The top five is completed by Grégoire Munster (Ford Puma Rally1, M-Sport Ford), who maintained a clean line and a steady pace, avoiding errors and tyre issues.

Both Takamoto Katsuta and Kalle Rovanpera (Toyota Gazoo Racing) experienced punctures, losing about two minutes each and dropping down the standings. Nonetheless, the day’s worst misfortune went to Thierry Neuville, whose Hyundai i20 N Rally1 had two punctures during the loop.

WRC2 competitors also struggled. The rugged terrain pushed every car and crew to their limits, with tyres playing a crucial role. Oliver Solberg (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) found the perfect balance between speed and control to take the lead. He is closely followed by Kajetan Kajetanowicz (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) and Gus Greensmith (Skoda Fabia Rally2 evo), with just 3 seconds separating the two.

In JWRC, Ali Turkkan dominated the first four stages of the day, but Mille Johansson fought back in the afternoon, closing the gap. Their duel is expected to go down to the wire on Saturday and Sunday.

Among Greek crews, Jourdan Serderidis (Ford Puma Rally1) leads comfortably, making full use of his machinery. Second place currently belongs to Giannis Plagos and Christos Kouzionis, who are debuting in a Skoda Fabia Rally2 evo. The top three is completed by Karanikolas–Kakavas (Ford Fiesta Rally2). Meanwhile, Amoutzas–Panayiotounis were forced to retire after an off caused serious damage to their Skoda Fabia Rally2, ruling them out of a restart.

Saturday’s route takes crews deep into the heritage of the Acropolis, with classic stages such as Pavliani, Karoutes and Inohori set to challenge every remaining contender. The connection to the rally’s storied past is unmistakable - and the message is clear: no one can feel safe until they reach the podium.

 

For high-resolution photos click here.