Sébastien Ogier takes the first lead of the Acropolis Rally by topping the opening nighttime super‑special stage in Athens.
Super‑Special Stage Gives Ogier a Cushion
The brand‑new asphalt duel in the Greek capital finished with Ogier beating world champion Thierry Neuville by 1.1 seconds, setting the tone for the weekend’s gravel battles.
Heat Winners and Benchmark Times
In the same bracket, Toyota teammate Takamoto Katsuta matched the performance of the Toyota team, emerging ahead of Alaska driver Elfyn Evans by roughly one second. Neuville’s heat placed him third overall, positioning him seventh on the road for Friday’s demanding six‑stage run.
Other Toyota and Ford Competitors Fight for the Top Ten
Two more Toyota drivers, Oliver Solberg and Sami Pajari, recorded times 1.2 seconds behind Ogier in separate offerings, with Solberg besting M‑Sport’s Jon Armstrong and Pajari defeating M‑Sport’s Māris Sescys. The Ford‑run Finnish driver and the M‑Sport lineup were soon followed by a cluster of strong showings.
Afternoon Deployments and Road‑Headed Lessons
Elfyn Evans finished as the sixth fastest overall, an encouraging result before a Friday that the rally’s organisers warned would test cars on rough, slippery roads. “It will be difficult to balance speed with car preservation,” Evans said. Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux surfaced a half‑second slower, while Dani Sordo, Jon Armstrong and WRC2 front‑runner Yohan Rossel rounded out the top ten.
Ready for a Rough Weekend
Ogier acknowledged that the true challenge starts tomorrow, stressing the influence of luck and the importance of preparation. Neuville admitted the need for realistic optimism, noting that the rally’s length would bring many variables.
With the first stage leaving Ogier on the front row and his team poised for a fight on the gravel, the Acropolis Rally’s next day promises to test all who push their machines to the limit.
"