The first day of EKO Acropolis Rally Greece 2024 has come to an end. Robert Virves leads the WRC2 class after the day.
SS1, Ano Pavliani 1
Yohan Rossel kicked off the weekend with a stage win. As the Frenchman set a time 7.6 seconds faster than Sami Pajari to win the stage. Nikolay Gryazin was third fastest on the stage, 13.3 seconds slower than Rossel and 5.7 seconds slower than Pajari. Lauri Joona finished fourth fastest on the stage, 3.4 seconds slower than Gryazin. Kajetan Kajetanowicz rounded out the top five on the stage, 1.6 seconds slower than Joona.
SS2, Dafni 2
Yohan Rossel also took the stage win on the stage second stage of EKO Acropolis Rally Greece 2024. With a time 3.4 seconds faster than Gus Greensmith. Lauri Joona finished third fastest on the stage, 6.8 seconds slower than Rossel, and 3.4 seconds slower than Greensmith. Fabrizio Zaldivar set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.3 seconds slower than Joona. Sami Pajari rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 1.2 seconds slower than Zaldivar.
SS3, Tarzan 1
Yohan Rossel completed the sweep of the morning loop after taking the stage win on SS3. Rossel set a time 8.4 seconds faster than both Sami Pajari and Gus Greensmith, who tied for second, to top the stage. Robert Virves finished fourth fastest on the stage, 4.6 seconds slower than Pajari and Greensmith. Kajetan Kajetanowicz rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 10.1 seconds slower than Virves.
SS4, Ano Panvliani 2
Yohan Rossel continued his dominance on the fourth stage of EKO Acropolis Rally Greece 2024. As the class leader finished with a time 0.1 seconds faster than Robert Virves to take the stage win. Georg Linnamäe was third fastest on the stage, 3.6 seconds slower than Rossel and 3.5 seconds slower than Virves. Gus Greensmith set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 1.7 seconds slower than Linnamäe. Nikolay Gryazin rounded out the top five, finishing 0.6 seconds slower than Greenmsith.
SS5, Dafni 2
Yohan Rossel also took the stage win on SS5. As Rossel set a time 4.2 seconds faster than Robert Virves. Georg Linnamäe finished third fastest on the stage, 8.5 seconds slower than Rossel and 4.3 seconds slower than Virves. Sami Pajari was fourth fastest on the stage, 4.1 seconds slower than Linnamäe. Gus Greenmsith rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 1.2 seconds slower than Pajari.
SS6, Tarzan 2
Yohan Rossel’s dominance came to an end on SS6. As Robert Virves took the stage win and class lead. As he finished the stage with a time 11.1 seconds faster than Sami Pajari. Georg Linnamäe set the third fastest time on the stage, 17.2 seconds slower than Virves and 6.1 seconds slower than Pajari. Jan Solans was fourth fastest on the stage, 0.7 seconds slower than Linnamäe. Kajetan Kajetanwoicz rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 3.1 seconds slower than Solans.
A Smaller Playing Field
Pierre-Louis Loubet, who challenged for the event win back in 2022 continued his streak of misfortune this weekend. As the Frenchman had an accident on the events opening stage. Lauri Joona retired on SS5 with a mechanical. Gus Greenmsith retired with a mechanical after hitting a cow. Don’t worry the cow was fine according to Gus. However, Greensmith’s Škoda Fabia Rally2 was not alright after the altercation. Rossel suffered a puncture on SS6, which dropped him to sixth in class.
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.