Thrilling Thursday sent Thierry Neuville to a 9.7‑second lead over Sebastien Ogier as the WRC Acropolis Rally Greece proved a punishing test for crews and cars.
Stage Preservation Pays Off
Neuville, who kept calm through the treacherous gravel, had an 11‑second advantage over Ogier after teammate Adrien Fourmaux lost the morning lead to a puncture on stage four.
Tyre strategy proved vital; Ogier shaved Neuville’s gap to 9.3 seconds at the five‑stage checkpoint, but Neuville rebounded with a win on stage six to restore a 10.1‑second advantage.
The Frenchman remained cautious, explaining that the rally’s length would test tyres and machinery tomorrow.
Driver Rivalry Intensifies
Ogier finished the day with a final‑stage push, narrowing Neuville’s lead to 9.7 seconds but staying secure in second place.
Jon Armstrong stretched his first WRC stage win to third overall before a front‑right puncture and power loss cost the Ford Puma over four minutes, forcing a retirement on the road section.
Armstrong’s exit lifted Adrien Fourmaux to third (+42.4 seconds) and pushed M‑Sport teammates Josh McErlean and Martins Sesks into fourth (+1m10.1s) and fifth (+1m16.9s) places.
Road‑Sweeping Hurdles Test the Team
Takato Katsuta endured road‑sweeping difficulties but survived the rough conditions to finish sixth (+1m33.2s).
Elfyn Evans, battling a tough opening road and first‑pass only stages, ended the day seventh (+1m55.2s) after overtaking Dani Sordo (8th, +2m49.5s) and Sami Pajari (8th, stop for a wheel on stage five).
Weekend Challenge Ahead
Six more harsh gravel stages loom on Saturday, where tyre conservation and vehicle resilience will remain key for all competitors.
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