Crews are describing the EKO Acropolis Rally as extremely challenging after completing their reconnaissance of the special stages. Below are their quotes, just before their first real encounter with the conditions of the event, which begins tomorrow at 09:01 with the Shakedown.

 

#11 Thierry NEUVILLE / Martijn WYDAEGHE
"The stages are very rough, with stones everywhere. It will be tough on both the cars and the tyres. Overall, the stages are narrower compared to previous years, which will be a challenge for us. I expect the rally to be more difficult and demanding than last year."

 

#17 Sébastien OGIER / Vincent LANDAIS
"Honestly, I’ve never seen another version of the Acropolis Rally that’s this rough! The road conditions are poor. It’s going to be a tough three days for everyone."

 

#8 Ott TÄNAK / Martin JÄRVEOJA
"At least this year the stages are dry! The rally is slower compared to last year. There are many stones on the road, but we must remember that we are in Greece."

 

#33 Elfyn EVANS / Scott MARTIN
"The conditions are difficult. It’s probably the toughest Acropolis we’ve seen in recent years. It will undoubtedly be a challenging three days."

 

#16 Adrien FOURMAUX / Alexandre CORIA
"A major difference this year is that the stages are dry. The routes are narrow, demanding, but also tough. There are some new stages, and overall the rally is slower compared to last year. It’s certainly tougher than Portugal and Sardinia, and in some places, even tougher than the Safari!"

 

#18 Takamoto KATSUTA / Aaron JOHNSTON
"The rally is definitely rougher than in the past. The conditions aren’t ideal. In our case, we will have an advantage with the starting order, but there will also be many stones on the road. We’ll see."

 

#6 Daniel SORDO / Cándido CARRERA
"The conditions are very difficult! There’s a lot of loose gravel and stones. The stages are very rough and in poor condition."

 

#13 Grégoire MUNSTER / Louis LOUKA
"The rally will be very tough. Friday’s stages are OK, but those on Saturday and Sunday are very rough."

 

#19 Jourdan SERDERIDIS / Frédéric MICLOTTE
"The first major difference this year is that the stages will be dry, but also very rough. This is good for us since we are driving a very durable car. However, we’ll need to be cautious about punctures."

 

#20 Sami PAJARI / Enni MÄLKÖNEN
"It’s a typical Acropolis! Some stages are familiar, others are new, but the rally remains just as tough."

 

#21 Yohan ROSSEL / Florian BARRAL
"A true Acropolis! The stages are narrow and rough. Also, this is my first time competing here, and the routes will be completely dry. It will be a demanding rally."

 

#22 Lauri JOONA / Ville MANNISENMÄKI
"We’ve competed here twice before, but I think the stages are rougher this year. I like the routes, but it will certainly be a big challenge for everyone."

 

#23 Nikolay GRYAZIN / Konstantin ALEKSANDROV
"The stages are rougher than last year. The conditions will be very tough on the tyres. We need to stay focused on our speed but also try to protect the car."

 

#24 Jan SOLANS / Rodrigo SANJUAN
"This is my first time competing in the Acropolis Rally. The stages are very tough, with large stones in the middle of the road! We need to be careful about punctures. It’s certainly one of the most challenging events in the WRC."

 

#25 Georg LINNAMÄE / James MORGAN
"Since I started competing here in 2021, I can say that this year is tougher than ever. It’s a true Acropolis!"

 

#26 Joshua MCERLEAN / James FULTON
"It’s my first time participating in the event, and you immediately realise it’s a demanding and tough rally."

 

#27 Gus GREENSMITH / Jonas ANDERSSON
"The rally is very enjoyable! It’s rougher than in previous years, but I like it."

 

#29 Kajetan KAJETANOWICZ / Maciej SZCZEPANIAK
"This year’s event is more difficult. The stages are rougher and have more hard sections. Also, there are many stones on the road."

 

#36 Georgios VASILAKIS / Thomas KRAWSZIK
"I like the stages; good work has been done. Although tough, the rally is as it should be for an Acropolis."

 

#38 Lambros ATHANASOULAS / Nikolaos ZAKCHAIOS
"Compared to the past, there are more loose stones on the road. I’m not sure if the rallying line will clear after the first passes, but otherwise, the surface isn’t that rough. The bigger problem is the loose stones - without them, this might be one of the best versions of the Acropolis."

 

#39 Georgios KECHAGIAS / Nikolaos PETROPOULOS
"The rally is very enjoyable and tough, as it should be for an Acropolis. The roads haven’t deteriorated much, except for stages like Rengini, Thiva, and Loutraki. The Acropolis generally requires a different approach. It’s not a speed rally. Each day has its own challenges."

 

#40 Panagiotis ROUSTEMIS / Christos BAKLORIS
"The stages are rough, probably more rough than any other year. However, they are still very enjoyable. Some sections are a pleasure to drive. This year, the stages in Lamia are equally tough."

 

#41 Vasileios VELANIS / Ilias PANAGIOTOUNIS
"This year’s rally is difficult. There are some smooth and some tight sections, but it always depends on what we’ll find on the road from the cars ahead. I think this will be the toughest Acropolis in recent years."

 

#43 Georgios-Alexandros AMOUTZAS / Georgios ILIOPOULOS
"It’s a unique experience for me. There are many kilometres and the stages vary greatly, which means there’s a lot of information for me to process. The rally requires attention and focus overall. Finishing is a goal, but it’s not easy."

 

#52 Paschalis CHATZIMARKOS / Marios TSAOUSOGLOU
"There are many stones on the road. This is the toughest Acropolis I’ve ever seen."