Date: 09.09.2021
Day: 1 
Flash N°: 3
Special stage: 1 (COSMOTE 5G Athens Stage)
Distance: 0,98 km
Weather: 23 °C
Road conditions: Dry tarmac

 1        SEBASTIEN OGIER/JULIEN INGRASSIA

“I love Greece, it's a beautiful country, I have been here for holidays. So, it's nice to be back on those roads. It's a rally I like.”

33      ELFYN EVANS/SCOTT MARTIN

“It's always good to get off to a nice start, even if it's just a short stage.”

 11      THIERRY NEUVILLE/MARTIJN WYDAEGHE

“I don't know what will be the key. It will be a long and tough event for men and material. We have to keep clean and tidy, no punctures. It's nice to see the people back.”

 69      KALLE ROVANPERÄ/JONNE HALTTUNEN

“I think nowadays everything is so different [than when my father was driving]. Really nice, lot of people, after long time it's nice to drive for the people and show what we can do with the cars.”

 8        OTT TÄNAK/MARTIN JÄRVEOJA

“Coming back to Greece. The roads at the first day of recce were incredible, difficult to see. For sure it will be a challenge. We are limited in the soft tyre. Weather changes all the time.”

 44      GUS GREENSMITH/CHRIS PATTERSON

“It's been one of my top three rallies to do. See what tomorrow brings, but it's good fun. Tomorrow, morning looks like a typical Acropolis.”

 6        DANI SORDO/CANDIDO CARRERA

“It's OK. Only a little stage, it's not very important. Tomorrow the stages are difficult, we will try to do our best.”

 16      ADRIEN FOURMAUX/RENAUD JAMOUL

“It's really good because we have a lot of spectators, it's nice. Always interesting to have these stages, too short, but enjoyable.”

 7        PIERRE-LOUIS LOUBET/FLORIAN HAUT-LABOURDETTE

“It was really really slippery. I was surprised but it was good. It was very nice to see all these people.”

 9        JOURDAN SERDERIDIS/FRED MICLOTTE

“It was still okay! During the recce I thought it was complicated and very narrow.”

 20      ANDREAS MIKKELSEN/ELLIOTT EDMONDSON

“I am sure it will be a good fight this weekend. We enjoyed that stage. Tomorrow the proper action starts and we are looking forward to the challenge.”

 21      MADS OSTBERG/TORSTEIN ERIKSEN

“It's really great to be back in a big city, I always enjoy that. I tried to be fast, clean but entertaining."

22      MARCO BULACIA/MARCELO DER OHANNESIAN

“I am comparing this rally like Turkey, so we will use our experience of two years in Turkey and let's see what happens. It is going to be difficult. The atmosphere is great, I'm happy to be in Athens.”

 23      NIKOLAY GRYAZIN/KONSTANTIN ALEKSANDROV

“I am quite excited. I am happy to come back behind the wheel and the new car is a big change for me, so I will be working on my pace. The stage was enjoyable.”

 25      MARTIN PROKOP/MICHAL ERNST

“It was really fun. There's a lot of people here and it's nice to drive in the city stage. It would be great if the stage was even longer.”

29      LEO URLICHICH/TOM WOODBURN

“Love it. My first ever time for a 4WD turbo car in Europe ever. I hope people can learn good driving from rally driving.”

COMMENTS

In front of a huge crowd in the centre of Athens, Sebastien Ogier claimed the fastest time (51,5''), in front of Elfyn Evans (+0,6'') and Kalle Rovanpera (+0,8'').