The first day of EKO Acropolis Rally Greece 2024 has come to an end. Ott Tänak leads after a chaotic day.
SS1, Ano Pavliani 1
Sebastien Ogier kicked off the weekend with a stage win. As the Frenchman set a time 0.6 seconds faster than Ott Tänak to top the opening stage. Adrien Fourmaux was third fastest on the stage, 0.8 seconds slower than Ogier and 0.2 seconds slower than Tänak. Takamoto Katsuta finished fourth fastest on the stage, 1.9 seconds slower than Fourmaux. Dani Sordo rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 6.6 seconds slower than Katsuta.
SS2, Dafni 2
Takamoto Katsuta took the stage win on the second stage of EKO Acropolis Rally Greece 2024. With a time 1.9 seconds faster than the new rally leader Ott Tänak. Sebastien Ogier finished third fastest on the stage, 3.9 seconds slower than Katsuta and two seconds slower than Tänak. Adrien Fourmaux set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.2 seconds slower than Ogier. Dani Sordo rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 0.8 seconds slower than Fourmaux.
SS3, Tarzan 1
Sebastien Ogier regained the rally lead with a stage win on SS3. As the eight-time champion finished with a time 4.9 seconds faster than fellow countryman Adrien Fourmaux. Dani Sordo was third fastest on the stage, 9.1 seconds slower than Ogier and 4.2 seconds slower than Fourmaux. Ott Tänak set the third fastest time on the stage, 2.1 seconds slower than Sordo. Thierry Neuville rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 1.4 seconds slower than Tänak.
SS4, Ano Panvliani 2
Sebastien Ogier also took the stage win on the fourth stage of EKO Acropolis Rally Greece 2024. With a time 1.9 seconds faster than Ott Tänak. Dani Sordo finished third fastest on the stage, 10.3 seconds slower than Ogier and 8.4 seconds slower than Tänak. Grégoire Munster set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 2.3 seconds slower than Sordo. Dani Sordo rounded out the top five on the stage, 0.6 seconds slower than Munster.
SS5, Dafni 2
Ott Tänak reclaimed the event lead with a stage win on SS5. As Tänak set a time 4.5 seconds faster than Dani Sordo. Grégoire Munster finished third fastest on the stage, 6.2 seconds slower than Tänak and 1.7 seconds slower than Sordo. Thierry Neuville was fourth fastest on the stage, 3.2 seconds slower than Munster. Elfyn Evans rounded out the top five on the stage, 0.7 seconds slower than Neuville.
SS6, Tarzan 2
Thierry Neuville capped off the first day of EKO Acropolis Rally Greece with his first stage win of the weekend. As the championship leader finished with a time 0.7 seconds faster than Dani Sordo. Ott Tänak was third fastest on the stage, 1.4 seconds slower than Neuville and 0.7 seconds slower than Sordo. WRC2 driver Robert Virves set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 20.2 seconds slower than Tänak. WRC2 driver Sami Pajari rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 11.1 seconds slower than Virves.
Narrowing Down The Field
Two of the Toyota Rally1 cars suffered turbo issues on the first day. Elfyn Evans had the issue on SS1, after already losing time due to a puncture. While Sebastien Ogier who was fighting for the event win had issues on SS6, the final stage of the day. Which put him out of the running for the win. However, he will still likely take home good points as everyone else who isn’t named Ott Tänak, Dani Sordo and Grégoire Munster has had issues. Takamoto Katsuta retired on SS3 after clipping a rock and losing a wheel. Adrien Fourmaux met his demise just one stage later on SS4 when he broke his front right suspension. Neuville had issues all morning for the most part. Claiming he was running on three cylinders for parts.
What To Expect From EKO Acropolis Rally Greece 2024 Day Two
The second day will see drivers contest 116.23 km across another six stages. The day’s longest stage is the 28.67 Rengini stage which serves as the day’s open stage and is only run once. The shortest stage is the 1.97 km EKO SSS stage, which will end the day off. Drivers will have to be cautious as there is no midday service. The day ends with a 45-minute service so teams can prepare the cars for the final day of action. Takamoto Katsuta is first on the road followed by Adrien Fourmaux and Jourdan Serderidis.