Ott Tänak is on the verge of delivering Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Staff its first victory of the 2025 FIA World Rally Championship season after a commanding Saturday on the EKO Acropolis Rally Greece.
The Estonian started the day with a slender 3.0s benefit however blew the sector aside in searing central Greek warmth, claiming 5 stage wins out of six to ascertain a 43.6s buffer over Sébastien Ogier heading into Sunday’s four-stage finale.
With temperatures rising and street circumstances quickly deteriorating, Tänak stored it tidy aboard his i20 N Rally1 whereas others hit hassle. He’s now completely positioned to take his first win since Central European Rally final October – and is poised to climb to second within the championship relying on how Sunday unfolds.
Behind him, Ogier centered on consistency quite than chasing stage wins. The Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 driver edged Tänak by simply 0.1s by way of SS10 – the one stage Tänak didn’t high – however selected to not take pointless dangers elsewhere. “It will be good to push,” he admitted, “however the important thing right here is staying out of hassle.”
Bother is precisely what befell Adrien Fourmaux. The Frenchman had held second till an affect with a rock in SS10 broken the rear suspension of his i20 N Rally1. He dropped greater than a minute and later reached the tip of SS11 with a tyre off the rim. Regardless of the drama, he clung on to 3rd in a single day, 1min 24.4s adrift of Tänak.
Elfyn Evans remained a distant fourth after a gentle however unspectacular day. The Toyota driver repeatedly described the circumstances as “very tough” and ended the leg over three minutes off the lead – however with championship rival Thierry Neuville behind, Sunday’s bonus-point alternatives stay vital.
Additional again, the Acropolis continued to punish. Kalle Rovanperä was operating mid-pack earlier than going off in SS11, whereas Takamoto Katsuta additionally slid broad and have become beached throughout the identical take a look at. Each Toyota drivers retired for the day however are set to restart on Sunday.
It was one other bruising leg for Neuville. After shedding time to tyre harm within the morning, Hyundai’s defending FIA world champion fought again into fifth general – although nonetheless over a minute behind Evans.
“We had the tempo,” Neuville mirrored. “However three punctures [this weekend] didn’t permit us to do what we are able to.”
Grégoire Munster accomplished the leg sixth regardless of combating a defective handbrake on his Ford Puma Rally1 all through the day.
Oliver Solberg continues to steer FIA WRC2 in seventh general with a cushty buffer over class Gus Greensmith, Kajetan Kajetanowicz and Yohan Rossel.
M-Sport Ford World Rally Staff’s Josh McErlean dropped to thirteenth after nursing a damaged rear driveshaft by way of two morning levels and finishing the afternoon with no handbrake.
Kajetanowicz has maintained his benefit in FIA WRC2 Challenger with Turkey’s Ali Türkkan nonetheless forward in FIA WRC3 and FIA Junior WRC. Miguel Granados tops the the FIA WRC Masters’ Cup order after Friday pacesetter Uğur Soylu dropped out.
EKO Acropolis Rally Greece concludes tomorrow (Sunday) with 4 levels over a aggressive distance of 99.06 kilometres. The brand new 26.16-kilometre Smokovo stage is up first from 08h03 native time, whereas the event-deciding Tarzan Wolf Energy Stage is because of start at 14h15.
