A Hyundai Triumph Amidst Grueling Conditions....
The 2024 EKO Acropolis Rally of Greece marked the tenth round of the thirteen-event World Rally Championship (WRC) season. Known for its punishing terrain and unforgiving conditions, the Acropolis Rally remains one of the most challenging fixtures on the WRC calendar. Its combination of twisty gravel mountain roads, high temperatures, and heavy dust continues to push drivers, teams, and cars to their absolute limits.
While the stages may be smoother than in years past, they still posed brutal demands on tyres and machinery. The Acropolis is notorious for testing the endurance of both cars and drivers, and this year’s edition was no exception. The rally began in earnest on Thursday with a Shakedown test, allowing teams to dial in their setups for what lay ahead. But the real battle kicked off on Friday with two loops of three treacherous stages, setting the stage for a fierce competition among the world’s top rally drivers.
Day 1: Hyundai Dominates, Neuville Struggles with Road Conditions
Championship leader Thierry Neuville, in his Hyundai i20 Rally1, opened the road on Friday. The Belgian star struggled to maintain pace, acting as a road-sweeper for the cars behind. The loose gravel made it difficult for Neuville to push, and despite his best efforts, he found himself down in third place overall by the end of the day. The road conditions were particularly challenging, with dust and heat compounding the difficulties for those running first on the stages.
Neuville’s teammates, however, were having a better day. Veteran Spanish driver Dani Sordo showcased his experience and consistency, slotting into second overall, while Estonia’s Ott Tänak led the charge, setting blistering times to secure the top spot after the first day’s action. By the evening, Hyundai held a commanding 1-2-3, with Tänak leading the event, followed by Sordo and Neuville, underscoring the manufacturer’s strength in the opening phase of the rally.
Day 2: Ogier’s Comeback and Neuville Takes the Lead
Saturday’s stages were longer and more grueling, testing both man and machine. As the sun baked the Greek mountains, the rally began to take its toll on several competitors. Former World Champion Sébastien Ogier, driving a part-time schedule this season, started to show the class and skill that had earned him eight world titles. After a challenging first day, Ogier found his rhythm, and by the end of the day, he had fought his way up to third place, positioning himself for a strong finish.
Meanwhile, Dani Sordo continued his steady pace, maintaining second overall, but it was Thierry Neuville who truly shined on Saturday. Neuville, no longer hampered by road-sweeping duties, unleashed his full potential, delivering a series of flawless stage wins. By the end of the day, the Belgian had vaulted into the overall lead, holding a comfortable advantage of 53.7 seconds over his teammate Sordo. The Hyundai i20 Rally1s were proving to be the cars to beat, as the team dominated the leaderboard heading into the final day.
Day 3: Neuville Claims Victory as Hyundai Sweeps the Podium
Sunday’s action was shorter but no less intense, with three stages culminating in the Power Stage, SS14 Eleftherohori, where extra championship points were up for grabs. Thierry Neuville, now in control of the rally, managed his lead with precision. Despite the challenging conditions, Neuville and co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe kept their cool, maintaining a strong pace to secure their victory. Neuville crossed the finish line with an impressive margin of 1 minute and 46 seconds, clinching his win in the 2024 Acropolis Rally and cementing his position at the top of the championship standings.
" 11 Thierry NEUVILLE / Martijn WYDAEGHE
"I'm very happy to win after such a weekend and also very happy to increase our lead in the Championship, which is obviously our main target for this year. I couldn't expect so many points and the victory here, but we knew we needed a decent approach. We were well prepared for rough conditions, the car was working quite well. Another '1-2-3', so we are working in the right direction. In Manufacturer's Championship we increased our lead, however nothing is done yet, we need to be focused and concentrated."
Dani Sordo, driving alongside Cándido Carrera, held onto second place. The part-time Spanish pairing delivered a stellar performance, navigating the tricky Greek terrain with minimal issues. Though they faced a few minor setbacks throughout the event, Sordo’s experience and consistency paid off, securing him a well-earned second place on the podium.
" 6 Daniel SORDO / Cándido CARRERA
"I was happy with our speed and the result. It's important that l help my team. Sure I have the motivation. We are here to fight for victories and try to win."
Former rally leader Ott Tänak, who had dominated Friday’s stages, saw his fortunes change as the event progressed. Despite leading early on, the Estonian couldn’t maintain his advantage and slipped down to third overall. Nonetheless, Tänak and his co-driver Martin Järveoja fought valiantly to round out the podium, ensuring a clean 1-2-3 sweep for the Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team.
" 8 Ott TÄNAK / Martin JÄRVEOJA
"I expected that there would be plenty of drama here, it was obviously drama in the past as well, but it was quite a lottery this weekend. It's a big shame that we were not able to handle it. It's frustrating, but anyway it was a very strong result for the team, to bring '1-2-3' home is definitely a great feeling."
Drama for Ogier: A Costly Roll on the Power Stage
Eight-time World Champion Sébastien Ogier had his sights set on finishing the Acropolis Rally strong and potentially fighting for his ninth world title, despite running a part-time campaign in 2024. However, the Frenchman’s determination may have pushed him too far. On the final Power Stage, Ogier rolled his Toyota Yaris Rally1 after pushing hard in an attempt to claim valuable points. Thanks to the assistance of nearby spectators, Ogier was able to get back on his wheels and continue, but the damage had been done. He finished the rally a distant 16th overall, a disappointing result for the French legend.
" 17 Sébastien OGIER / Vincent LANDAIS
"I don't know if it's frustration or disappointment or just a weekend where things didn't work out. We ended up making a mistake in the last stage, before that we were having a misfortune with the turbo on Friday, then I ended up taking risks all weekend to try to recover as many points as I could. Unfortunately I had a puncture at the Wolf Stage and I didn't react enough on the next brakes to anticipate the fact that I had a flat tyre. I couldn't brake and went off the road.
In the end I take responsibility for these mistakes and life goes on."
WRC2: Pajari Shines as Virves and Rossel Battle
In the WRC2 support class, the battle for supremacy was equally intense. France’s Yohan Rossel initially led the rally on Friday, but his pace faltered by SS6, dropping him to sixth overall. Estonian driver Robert Virves took over the lead, showcasing his speed and determination through the challenging stages. However, his reign was short-lived as the young Finnish talent Sami Pajari seized control of the rally by SS9.
Pajari, driving a Toyota with co-driver Enni Mälkönen, held onto his lead through the remainder of the event. The Finnish pairing delivered a composed and confident performance, ultimately winning the WRC2 class and finishing an astonishing fourth overall. Pajari’s drive was a clear demonstration of his growing potential and ability to mix it with faster, more powerful machinery.
" 20 Sami PAJARI / Enni MÄLKÖNEN
"The Rally was very tough. The finish was very close.
We knew that it was going to be very challenging, but not so much. We managed really well to survive the Rally and had the speed to win after a very close battle to the end."
In the end, VIRVES secured a well-deserved second place on the podium, showcasing impressive skill behind the wheel of his Skoda.
" 28 Robert VIRVES / Aleks LESK
"For me the most important thing is that I show that I can be fast on all kinds of surfaces. With some experience we can fight for the victory. The conditions were very rough and I think we managed well with all the punctures and problems."
After a long, hot, and rugged event, ROSSEL claimed a hard-earned third place in his Citroën, demonstrating remarkable perseverance and determination.
" 21 Yohan ROSSEL / Florian BARRAL
"Except for the first day, when we had the puncture, it was a good day for me. We had good speed and we proved that we are on a high level of performance on gravel. We have a strong car and I think we deserve the victory. But we made a mistake..."
Local Greek hero Jourdan Serderidis
Serderidis, piloting an M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1, completed the rally in 14th place overall. Alongside his co-driver Frédéric Miclotte, Serderidis fought through the tough conditions of the Acropolis Rally to secure a respectable finish in his home event, earning the admiration of the passionate Greek fans.
" 19 Jourdan SERDERIDIS / Frédéric MICLOTTE
"A lot of things were happening at the end. Like Ogier.
We managed to finish 15th and it's my best result in the Acropolis Rally. I am very happy. And also I would like to congratulate Panagiotis Roustemis. He did a perfect Rally and deserves the result."
Conclusion: Hyundai’s Historic 1-2-3
The 2024 EKO Acropolis Rally will go down as a historic event for Hyundai, with the team achieving a rare 1-2-3 finish. Thierry Neuville’s commanding victory, supported by Dani Sordo and Ott Tänak’s strong performances, reaffirmed Hyundai’s dominance in this demanding rally. As the WRC season enters its final stretch, Neuville’s win in Greece further solidified his bid for the 2024 World Rally Championship title, while Sébastien Ogier will have to regroup after a disappointing end to his Acropolis Rally campaign.
The Acropolis Rally, as always, provided fans with high drama, stunning performances, and unforgettable moments—a fitting continuation of its legendary status in the world of rallying.
