Метка: Rally Greece

Ogier snatches lead as Neuville, Evans suffer power issues

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Sebastien Ogier moved into the lead of the Acropolis Rally after an eventful opening loop where power issues struck his World Rally Championship title rivals Thierry Neuville and Elfyn Evans.

A blistering effort on the final stage of a particularly arduous gravel loop helped Toyota driver Ogier regain the rally lead he held after winning the opening stage, to head to service with a 5.9s advantage.

M-Sport Ford’s Adrian Fourmaux emerged as Ogier’s nearest rival after the Frenchman climbed above Hyundai’s Ott Tanak [+9.8s], who had topped the timesheets after two stages.

Hyundai’s Dani Sordo completed the loop in fourth [+19.4s] ahead of championship-leading team-mate Neuville, hampered by an engine issue [+35.7s]. The top six was rounded out by M-Sport Gregoire Munster [+1m12.9s] after Toyota Takamoto Katsuta suffered a crash, while team-mate Evans [+8m57.3s] lost time to a puncture and a power problem. 

Crews predicted this year’s Acropolis Rally to be the roughest and most challenging in recent years and it didn’t take long for the tough gravel roads to bite.

Title contender Evans suffered a puncture 15 kilometres into the opening Ano Pavliani (22.47km) stage, which cost the Toyota driver more than two minutes as the Welshman appeared to reach the stage end with his GR Yaris suffering another issue. Evans was seen working under the bonnet of his car on the road section between stages.

Championship leader Neuville also endured a difficult start reporting that he felt his i20 N was running on three cylinders during the test, which required roadside repairs. The Belgian was also affected by cleaning the road and ended the stage 10.3s off the pace.

Thierry Neuville, Martijn Wydaeghe, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Thierry Neuville, Martijn Wydaeghe, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Photo by: Austral / Hyundai Motorsport

The pace was set by Neuville’s nearest rival in the championship, Ogier. The Toyota driver took the stage win by 0.6s from Hyundai’s Tanak, while M-Sport’s Fourmaux was a further two tenths of a second back.

Ogier was however frustrated by the hanging dust he faced with crews split by three-minute gaps.

Katsuta also complained about the dust that affected the Japanese at the start of the stage before going on to set the fourth-fastest time, 2.7s adrift of Ogier and ahead of Sordo.

Munster dropped 21.6s in the stage but was also seen working on his Ford Puma that appeared to be suffering from a problem.

The test was later cancelled when former M-Sport driver Pierre-Louis Loubet crashed into a tree, which resulted in his Rally2 Skoda catching fire. Loubet and co-driver Loris Pascaud were okay following the impact.

Organisers increased the time gaps between the leading Rally1 and Rally2 crews to four minutes for the delayed second stage, Dafni [21.67km].

Katsuta’s brave gamble to take only one spare tyre to save weight appeared to pay as the Japanese claimed the stage by 1.9s from Tanak.

Tanak had previously set the pace with an effort two seconds faster than Ogier to leap ahead of the Frenchman and into the rally lead. Katsuta’s effort put the Toyota driver into second overall, 0.2s behind Tanak.

Grateful for the four-minute gap, Ogier, affected by road cleaning, was third fastest ahead of Fourmaux and Sordo. Ogier trailed leader Tanak by 1.4s with Fourmaux only second behind Ogier.

The issues for Neuville and Evans continued with the former admitting he was “running on three cylinders for 50% of the stage at least”, while Evans fared much worse with his GR Yaris depleted of power.

“[It’s] not clear at the moment, we had no power, we don’t know what it is yet,” said Evans who dropped a further 3m18.7s.

Elfyn Evans, Scott Martin, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

Elfyn Evans, Scott Martin, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

Photo by: Toyota Racing

Munster was also unable to resolve his gearbox issue on the road section before then suffering a handbrake problem in the stage.

Ogier delivered an impressive push to win the third and final stage of the loop [Tarzan, 23.37km] and snatch the rally lead from Tanak. The Frenchman took one more soft tyre in his six-tyre package compared to Tanak, who had all hard compound tyres on his car in the stage. As a result, he took 11.2s out of Tanak as the rally leader struggled with his car balance in the test.

Ogier’s impressive pace resulted in a stage win by 4.9s from Fourmaux, who hoped organisers would offer him time back after being caught in the dust of Evans, who continued to nurse his wounded GR Yaris through the stage.

However, there was drama behind as Katsuta ripped a wheel off his Toyota in the stage, dropping the Japanese driver out of second position, having stopped 6.9km into the stage.

The crews will repeat the three stage this afternoon to conclude Friday’s leg of the rally.



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Why Acropolis Rally will live up to ‘European Safari’ moniker

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Often referred to as the ‘European Safari’ given the incredibly tough conditions, this weekend’s World Rally Championship Acropolis Rally is likely to be even harder than its African counterpart.

WRC drivers are set to face possibly the roughest Acropolis Rally in recent memory thanks to series of contributing factors that has resulted in much rougher stage conditions.

The Greek round of the WRC is renowned for being one of its toughest but some of this weekend’s field believe the rally will be more challenging than Kenya’s Safari Rally, regarded as the WRC’s toughest event.

Long periods of dry hot weather have made it difficult for organisers to repair and prepare the gravel roads before hosting round 10 of the 2024 season. As a result, the stages are much rougher with more loose rocks and bedrock for competitors to navigate through in searing heat.

The road conditions have significantly increased the risk of punctures and damage to cars. It’s a stark contrast to last year’s event that was plagued by Storm Daniel that forced organisers to cancel shakedown due to flooding.

“We haven’t seen a Rally Acropolis this rough for many years. I think in 2009, this rally was extremely rough and there was many retirements, so it will be something like this,” said Toyota team principal Jari- Matti Latvala.

“The past years has been quite smooth, but now it hasn’t rained so the organisers haven’t been able to really repair the roads because you need the rain to, push the material into the ground and they were not able to do that.

Takamoto Katsuta, Aaron Johnston, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

Takamoto Katsuta, Aaron Johnston, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

Photo by: Toyota Racing

“So now it’s a matter of tactics. You try to be smart with your driving. It’s not about having an attack all the time. The strategy of the drivers is going to be in a key element.”

Toyota’s Sebastien Ogier believes the stages are even rougher than those on Safari Rally Kenya, admitting that he struggled to pick a safe line through the rocks on the pre-event recce.

“I think it is [rougher than Kenya] because there are some sections where it’s just full of rocks everywhere so there is not much you can do,” Ogier told Motorsport.com.

“It’s very hard to pick a strategy to avoid them, there is no chance to avoid them.

“When in Kenya I felt that you can manage your risk by the line you take and everything, here there are sections full of rocks and you feel powerless in this situation. In some places on the recce I just stopped and I watched, I just didn’t know where to pass through the road. I didn’t know what is the best [option].”

Championship leader Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville, who holds a 27-point advantage over Ogier, conceded that he will take a different approach considering his title aspirations.

Thierry Neuville, Martijn Wydaeghe, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Thierry Neuville, Martijn Wydaeghe, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

“You always have those three or four guys who go for it and definitely one will get through like always, maybe two, and then there’s only one spot of the podium left,” Neuville told Motorsport.com.

“For us, the approach will be different. We will keep an eye on our championship rivals.

“We don’t know what their approach is and Ogier probably has less to lose but still, I think he’s also involved in the fight for the manufacturer championship. I think on a rally like this, Ogier has generally a clever approach and we will try to find a good balance. Some other drivers might go for it.

“For the risk and for the lottery, it is tougher than Safari. At the Safari Rally you have dips but you brake, you go through, and you carry on. But here you will find a lot of things on the road, which you haven’t seen before, and that’s it.”

Is the Acropolis Rally verging on being too rough?

While the Acropolis Rally has a storied history for being Europe’s toughest rally, M-Sport team principal Richard Millener says organisers must be wary not to make the event too difficult.

“The FIA has been pushing for this event to be as rough as it has been for a few years, so let’s see what happens. I’m on the fence with it,” said Millener.

Adrien Fourmaux, Alexandre Coria, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team Ford Puma Rally1

Adrien Fourmaux, Alexandre Coria, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team Ford Puma Rally1

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

“I think, yes, there’s an element of endurance to this, but I just hate losing cars, and the minute you lose cars, even if you can repair broken suspension and things like that, your battles are gone. I don’t like events that end up with big gaps between the cars and OK, there’s still the Sunday points to fight for which takes some of that away.

“I think we also just have to be careful we don’t make it rough to test out the Rally1 cars we also have the Rally2 and Rally3 cars.”



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Ogier commits to remaining WRC rounds to boost Toyota’s title hopes

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Sebastien Ogier has confirmed plans to contest the remaining rounds of the World Rally Championship to help Toyota challenge for both the drivers’ and manufacturers’ crowns.

The eight-time world champion was set to contest a half-season campaign in his role as part-time driver, but his impressive run of three wins and three second-place finishes have proved crucial for Toyota’s manufacturers’ title push.

Ogier’s success has also left the Frenchman as Toyota’s highest-placed driver in the championship and firmly in the fight for a ninth crown, only 27 points adrift of championship leader  and Hyundai rival Thierry Neuville.

Earlier this week, Rally Chile, which follows this weekend’s round in Greece, released its entry list that featured Ogier and his part-time Toyota team-mate and reigning two-time world champion Kalle Rovanpera.

Watch: EKO Acropolis Rally Greece Shakedown highlights

Toyota team principal Jari-Matti Latvala had already asked Ogier to compete in the remaining rounds earlier this year. Despite initially appearing to downplay the prospect after Rally Finland, Ogier will now add Chile and the Central European Rally to his programme that already included November’s Japan season finale. 

“I think now it’s clear. It’s four rounds remaining and the position we are in the championship we had to give it a try, being also now the leading driver for Toyota,” Ogier told Motorsport.com. 

“Of course, there was a bigger wish from the team for me to be there and on my side two out of this four [rallies] were planned already, and we just had to add Chile and Central Europe. 

“Even if I’m not looking so much for the travel to Chile [because of the distance to Europe], I cannot complain to be in this situation. 

Sébastien Ogier, Vincent Landais, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

Sébastien Ogier, Vincent Landais, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

Photo by: Toyota Racing

“It’s still always tempting to have a chance to fight for a championship, even though right now it’s still a long shot. It’s still with the current point system, not so easy to catch this kind of gap, but the best we can do is try to put pressure as late as we can in the season. 

“As long as there is a mathematical chance, anything can happen.”

Toyota boss Latvala says the outcome is both “good for Sebastien personally and for the team”, while admitting securing the manufacturers’ title is the primary goal. Toyota sits 20 points adrift of Hyundai heading into this weekend despite winning six of the nine rallies to date.

“We discussed that if he does Latvia and it goes well why not do the rest of the championship because he’s been a very strong asset for us this year,” said Latvala. 

“We want to keep the championship fight alive.” 

Championship leader Neuville, who announced a one-year extension with Hyundai for 2025 before today’s Acropolis Rally Greece shakedown, expects Ogier to be his strongest rival for the rest of the season.

“It will be someone else to fight for the championship and if you’re going to win then it is even better,” said Neuville.  

“He will always have an excuse because he didn’t do all the other rounds, but he chose very well which ones he didn’t do. 

“He has done very well benefiting from his road position but now it will be a bit different, but he is the man to fight. It is no secret he is the one who will be the strongest until the end of the year in the fight for the championship, and we need to resist.” 

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Hyundai’s 2026 WRC decision likely to shape Neuville’s long-term future

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Thierry Neuville says his World Rally Championship future beyond 2025 will likely be determined by Hyundai’s WRC plans as he doesn’t see himself “going on with another brand”.

The WRC points leader has signed a new one-year extension that will take him into a 12th season with the Korean marque.

However, the Belgian’s WRC future beyond 2025 is unclear with Hyundai yet to confirm its commitment to the WRC for 2026, amid speculation the brand could leave the championship and join the World Endurance Championship.

Neuville has previously stated a desire to sign a two-year deal but it appears Hyundai’s uncertain future has resulted in only a one-year extension. The 36-year-old, while happy to secure his future for another season, admitted that there were even some initial worries about securing this new contract.

“It is great news. I’m very happy to continue my preferred sport with the passion and the enthusiasm I still have, so I’m looking forward to it,” Neuville told Motorsport.com.

“Obviously the fact that the contract is signed is a good point and I don’t need to worry about that anymore.

“At some point, sure, I think we were all worried. However, now it’s official, we’re going to continue, and I think it’s also important news for the team members as well.”

Podium: Thierry Neuville, Martijn Wydaeghe, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Podium: Thierry Neuville, Martijn Wydaeghe, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Photo by: Austral / Hyundai Motorsport

When asked if there was an option of a two-year deal, he revealed that there is the possibility he could be with the team longer than his new terms of his new agreement.

“We don’t go into more details, but opportunities will be there, but it will not depend on us, so I believe that we will have to see what the future of the team is. We could be there for longer,” he said.

Pressed on if he had started to think about his future beyond 2025, he replied: “Not at all, because, like I said, there might be opportunity for more. At the moment, it’s too early to know what will be the future of the teams in WRC and the category itself. So I believe that it’s too early to know.”

However, given the uncertainty around Hyundai’s WRC future beyond 2025, Neuville said that the brand’s decision whether to stay or leave the WRC could ultimately decide the future of his own rallying career in the top flight.

“Obviously, for me it wouldn’t be a disaster not to be there anymore after so many years, but on the other hand, if obviously Hyundai retire it would probably be a point for me to retire as well. I have done so long with them and I have enjoyed that time. At the moment I don’t see myself going on with another brand, but who knows?”

Neuville has previously shown interest in competing in categories outside of the WRC, having raced in TCR Germany in 2019. While he revealed that at some point he could consider an alternative to rally, the WRC is where he wishes to compete in the near future.

“At some point [I could consider Rally Raid or circuit racing], but honestly speaking, if I do something I want to do it professionally. At the moment where I can make the best of is still in WRC. It’s where I’m the best and where the team needs me the most. So, that’s the place to be at the moment,» he said.

Thierry Neuville, Martijn Wydaeghe, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Thierry Neuville, Martijn Wydaeghe, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

Looking ahead to next season, Neuville will drive a heavily upgraded i20 N Rally, thanks to the deployment of homologation jokers, as the team aims to resurrect some of the plans it had for its new car project that was abandoned amid the 2025 FIA technical rules U-turn earlier this year.

Neuville has already begun testing some of the updates ahead of their 2025 debut.

“The target of the team to be competitive next year. So I think if they carry on with signing fast drivers it’s because they want to be competitive and that is why they have decided to put some jokers on the car,” he added.



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Neuville signs new Hyundai deal to join Tanak for 2025 WRC

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Thierry Neuville has signed a one-year contract extension to remain with Hyundai, alongside Ott Tanak, to contest the 2025 World Rally Championship.

The current WRC points leader had entered into the final year of his current deal with the Korean marque this season, before reaching a new agreement that will take the five-time title runner-up into a 12th year with the team in WRC.

Neuville will once again continue alongside co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe, while Hyundai has exercised an option on 2019 world champion pairing Tanak and Martin Jarvoeja for next year. Tanak scored victory in Sardinia this year in his second spell with the team after spending 2023 driving for M-Sport-Ford.

Neuville joined Hyundai in 2014 when the car maker embarked on its second stint as a factory team in the WRC. The Belgian scored his and Hyundai’s first outright WRC win in Germany in their maiden season — the win is one of 20 Neuville has scored for the Alzenau outfit.

The 36-year-old told Autosport last year that he would like to sign a two-year deal to take him into 2026. However, Hyundai’s future in the WRC beyond 2025 is yet to be confirmed amid speculation the marque could leave the championship, amid expected plans to join the World Endurance Championship in 2026.

“I am very happy to extend my contract with Hyundai Motorsport for the 2025 FIA World Rally Championship season,” said Neuville on the eve of this weekend’s Acropolis Rally in Greece.

“There are not many partnerships in motorsport that have spanned as long as ours, but since 2014 we have achieved great success together.

Thierry Neuville, Martijn Wydaeghe, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Thierry Neuville, Martijn Wydaeghe, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

“I’ve said before that this team has become a second family to me, and our ambition and motivation has only grown year after year. It would be a great honour to win our first drivers’ title with them at the end of this season, and to carry that forward into a 12th year together. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us.”

Hyundai team principal Cyril Abiteboul added: “We are pleased to confirm Thierry Neuville alongside Ott Tanak for our 2025 FIA World Rally Championship campaign.

“The decision to maintain this competitive pairing at Hyundai Motorsport underscores our commitment to the series in 2025, where we will once again be targeting all three championship titles.

“Thierry has been with Hyundai Motorsport since the very start, proving invaluable to the team both on the stages and in the factory over the past 11 years.

“With him and his co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe now locked in for next season, we have all of the ingredients needed to continue fighting at the very pinnacle of our sport.”

Hyundai is yet to announce who will pilot its third i20 N Rally1 next year. Abiteboul has previously stated that the team is “exploring scenarios” for this entry having chosen to split the car across Esapekka Lappi, Andreas Mikkelsen and Dani Sordo.

M-Sport’s Adrien Fourmaux has however been heavily linked to the drive, although the British squad is eager to keep its lead driver for 2025.

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Ogier, Rovanpera selected to help Toyota WRC title bid in Chile

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


World champions Sebastien Ogier and Kalle Rovanpera will feature for Toyota to help the Japanese marque’s World Rally Championship title bid at Rally Chile.

Toyota will therefore field four GR Yaris Rally1 cars for the final gravel round of the season held in the South American nation from 26-29 September.

Ogier and Rovanpera have both been contesting partial campaigns this season although it appears the former is likely to start 10 of the 13 rounds this year. Toyota team principal Jari-Matti Latvala asked Ogier to commit to the remainder of the season last month.

Ogier is currently Toyota’s best hope at securing the drivers’ title, with the eight-time world champion sitting 27 points adrift of Hyundai’s standings leader Thierry Neuville heading into this weekend’s Acropolis Rally Greece.

The Frenchman has scored three wins (Croatia, Portugal, Finland) and three second place finishes (Monte Carlo, Sardinia, Latvia) from his six starts to date.

Rovanpera’s outing in Chile will be his seventh start of a campaign that has included victories in Kenya, Poland and Latvia. The Finn was on course to take a fourth win in Finland last time out before rolling out of a commanding lead on the penultimate stage.

The decision to add Ogier and Rovanpera to a Chile line-up that includes its full-time drivers Elfyn Evans and Takamoto Katsuta should help Toyota as it seeks to close the gap to rivals Hyundai in the manufacturers title battle.

Toyota heads to Greece sitting 20 points adrift of Hyundai, despite winning six of the nine rallies so far.

Kalle Rovanperä, Jonne Halttunen, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

Kalle Rovanperä, Jonne Halttunen, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

Photo by: Toyota Racing

Confirmation of the Rally Chile entry list sees Esapekka Lappi rejoin Hyundai to pilot the third i20 N Rally1 car.

Lappi kicked off the season with a victory in Sweden, but has failed to finish inside the top 10 in his last three outings in Kenya, Latvia and Finland.

It has already been confirmed that M-Sport-Ford will expand its line-up for the event to three cars, with Martins Sesks returning to the championship to pilot a non-hybrid version of the Ford Puma.

The Latvian, who finished fifth in Poland and seventh at his home event, will join regulars Adrien Fourmaux and Gregoire Munster.

WRC2 championship leader Oliver Solberg will make the trip alongside one of his title rivals Yohan Rossel as part of Rally Chile’s 45-car entry list.



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Sordo to make WRC return for Hyundai in Greece

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Dani Sordo will contest another World Rally Championship event this year after confirmation Hyundai has selected the veteran to pilot its third entry at next month’s Acropolis Rally Greece.

Sordo’s immediate WRC future had been unknown, with the Spaniard revealing earlier this season that he had only two outings planned with the Korean marque.

Those two appearances in Portugal in May and June’s Rally Italia Sardinia yielded fifth and third places finishes respectively. The 41-year-old hinted in Sardinia the rally could be his last WRC outing.   

“I don’t know if you will see me again, let’s see,” said Sordo when asked at the end of the Power Stage when he would be back. “I have two rallies this year, I don’t want to talk about it now, so let’s see. I will finish this rally with a podium, and this will make me happy.”

However, following today’s release of the Acropolis Rally Greece entry list, Sordo will be handed another opportunity this season to pilot Hyundai’s third i20 N Rally1 at the 5-8 September event.

Dani Sordo, Candido Carrera, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Dani Sordo, Candido Carrera, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

Hyundai had selected Sordo for the previous three visits to Greece, where he finished third in those last two editions of the tough gravel rally.

Sordo has been active since his last outing in Sardinia having contested the USA’s famous Pikes Peak hillclimb, winning the Exhibition class driving a modified electric-powered IONIQ 5 N TA. Sordo also made an appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and won the Rallye Blendio Cristian Lopez Herrero asphalt event in his native Spain earlier this month.

The entry list also confirms that M-Sport will field a third Ford Puma Rally1 for Greek gentleman driver Jourdan Serderidis to ensure nine Rally1 cars are set to tackle the event’s 15 stages.

Earlier today, Toyota announced its line-up, confirming that eight-time world champion Sebastien Ogier will drive its third GR Yaris.  

After scoring an impressive fourth on his Rally1 debut in Finland, Sami Pajari will return to Rally2 machinery to head up the WRC2 field. Championship leader Oliver Solberg has opted to sit this round out.



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