The third day of EKO Acropolis Rally Greece has come to an end. Kalle Rovanperä regained the event lead on the day.
SS7, Pavliani 1
Kalle Rovanperä claimed the stage win on the seventh stage of the weekend. With Rovanperä posting a time 1.3 seconds faster than Sebastien Ogier to take the stage win. Thierry Neuville finished third fastest on the stage, 10.6 seconds slower than Ogier, losing the rally lead to Ogier in the process. Elfyn Evans set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.8 seconds slower than Neuville. Ott Tänak rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 4.5 seconds slower than Evans.
SS8, Karoutes 1
Thierry Neuville took home the stage win on the eighth stage of EKO Acropolis Rally Greece. With Neuville posting a time 9.8 seconds faster than Sebastien Ogier to regain the rally lead. Elfyn Evans finished third quickest on the outing, 0.5 seconds slower than Ogier. Kalle Rovanperä set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 1.3 seconds slower than Evans. Takamoto Katsuta rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 14.2 seconds slower than Rovanperä.
SS9, Eleftherohori 1
Kalle Rovanperä claimed the final stage win of the third days opening loop. Posting a time 1.5 seconds faster than Thierry Neuville to take his second stage win of the day. Sebastien Ogier finished third fastest on the stage, 8.9 seconds slower than Neuville, expanding Neuville’s event lead to 10.9 seconds. Dani Sordo set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 4.7 seconds slower than Ogier. Ott Tänak rounded out the top five on the stage, 0.4 seconds slower than Sordo.
SS10, Pavliani 2
Kalle Rovanperä picked up where he left off, taking another stage win. Posting a time 0.2 seconds faster than now rally leader Sebastien Ogier. Elfyn Evans finished third fastest on the stage, 6.3 seconds slower than Ogier. Dani Sordo set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 4.8 seconds slower than Evans. Ott Tänak once again rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 1 second slower than Sordo.
SS11, Karoutes 2
Kalle Rovanperä continued his streak of dominance taking the stage win on the 11th stage of EKO Acropolis Rally Greece. With Rovanperä posting a time 0.2 seconds faster than Ogier once again. Elfyn Evans finished third fastest on the stage, 10 seconds slower than Ogier. Ott Tänak set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 2 seconds slower than Evans. Dani Sordo rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 3.7 seconds slower than Tänak.
SS12, Eleftherohori 2
Kalle Rovanperä closed out the third day with yet another stage win. Posting a time 12.9 seconds faster than Dani Sordo to take the rally lead. Elfyn Evans and Ott Tänak tied for the third fastest time on the stage, with both finishing 9.1 seconds slower than Sordo. Takamoto Katsuta set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 13.2 seconds slower than Evans and Tänak. WRC2 driver Andreas Mikkelsen rounded out the top five fastest times on the stage, finishing 12.3 seconds behind Katsuta.
Trouble For Ogier
On SS12 Sebastien Ogier met his fate. As what’s suspected to be a broken suspension arm caused him to fall out of the rally lead. Losing just under 4 minutes to Kalle Rovanperä on the stage and falling to fourth overall just over a minute ahead of Tänak. Ogier sat 12.4 seconds ahead of Rovanperä heading into SS12
Neuville Out
Sebastien Ogier wasn’t the only driver to have an issue on day three of EKO Acropolis Rally Greece. As on SS10 Neuville had his suspension break. Neuville retired from the day soon after. It’s unknown if Neuville will return to action for the final day of the event. Neuville sat 10.9 seconds ahead of Ogier heading into the stage.
A Resurging Estonian
Ott Tänak sits in fifth heading into the final day of the event. On day two Tänak received a 3-minute and 40-second penalty for being 22 minutes late to SS4. The cause for Tänak being late was him having to repair a water pump in his car. SS4 was ultimately canceled before Tänak could run the stage. Issues for Esapekka Lappi and Takamoto Katsuta allowed the Estonian to move into a top-five spot. Now sitting just a minute and 4.9 seconds behind Ogier heading into the final three stages.
What To Expect From Day Four
The fourth and final day of EKO Acropolis Rally Greece will feature 3 special stages. Meaning there isn’t much room for drivers to gain back loads of time. Kalle Rovanperä sits 2 minutes and 4.4 seconds ahead of Dani Sordo heading into the final day. Due to this there likely won’t be a battle for first tomorrow unless Rovanperä has an issue or makes a mistake. There will be a battle for second, however, as just 5 seconds separate Sordo and Elfyn Evans heading into the day.