A rock smashed Alejandro Cachón’s windscreen during Stage 7 of the Acropolis Rally, leaving the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 shuddering but still swift. The incident occurred on the gravel section in Thiva when debris hit the windshield mid‑straight, shattering the panel on the co‑driver’s side.
Windshield shattered by rock at Acropolis Rally
Stage 7’s straightaway featured the roof‑shattering event, as a stone from the roadside struck the front of the car. The 23 year‑old Chilean, competing in WRC2, was piloting his GR Yaris Rally2 when the impact caused the glass to collapse once the wingnut bolt was compromised.
Driver’s reaction and comments
After the crash, Cachón remarked that “it feels like someone threw something because it happened in the middle of a straight, so I don’t know.” In a post‑stage interview he added, “We’re in third place in WRC2 but the day could have ended very badly, and I hope that if this wasn’t accidental you don’t step on another stage.” On social media the driver posted, “The whole team works very hard and [co‑driver] Borja Rozada and I give our very best so no one ruins the work of so many people like this.”
Investigation underway amid podium finish
Both the FIA and Acropolis Rally organisers have opened a formal investigation to determine the cause of the shattered windscreen. A statement from the FIA noted that “Car No. 24 sustained a shattered windscreen after being hit by a rock along the stage route” and that the “cause of the incident is presently under investigation.”
Despite the windshield failure, Cachón finished Friday’s daily run with the fastest WRC2 time on Stage 7, sitting third overall in class and 31.4 seconds behind WRC2 leader Andreas Mikkelsen. The incident adds a tense chapter to the rally’s already dramatic narrative.
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