WRC Rally 1 machine speeding down the road WRC Rally 1 machine speeding down the road

2024.10.02 Hyundai Motorsport Team 분량12min

[2024 WRC R10] A Drama Filled Rally Acropolis: Hyundai Marks Triple Podium

The Acropolis Rally in Greece, renowned for its rugged terrain, is one of the longest-standing events on the WRC calendar. Amid a host of issues plaguing almost every driver and team, Thierry Neuville, who struggled with engine cylinder problems on the first day, managed to maintain his pace and ultimately took the victory. Adding to the triumph, Dani Sordo and Ott Tänak finished second and third, respectively, giving Hyundai a perfect 1-2-3 finish—repeating their remarkable success from 2022.

Rally 1 Machine Running Down the Trough

After wrapping up three consecutive gravel events, the WRC had a month-long summer break, leaving just four rounds remaining. Round 10 took place in Greece with the Acropolis Rally, an event first held in 1953 and included in the inaugural WRC calendar in 1973. Except for the oil crisis year in 1974 and a two-liter class-only race in 1995, the Acropolis Rally continued annually until 2010, maintaining immense popularity. It alternated between WRC and ERC (European Rally Championship) until it returned to the WRC calendar in 2021.

The rally car is running on a rough road

Rally Acropolis is notorious for its rough terrain littered with rocks, making it a challenging battlefield for drivers.


The roads are covered in loose gravel and dust, but as cars race over them, hard, sharp rocks hidden beneath quickly come to the surface. Coupled with the hot weather, the drivers must be mindful of both tire and vehicle damage. Maintaining focus is difficult for the crews, especially on Saturday, when they must race long distances without a midday service break. Avoiding any damage to the car is paramount. Participants often raise the vehicle’s ride height and install additional protective gear. Hard tires are typically the best option for the heat and rough roads, though soft tires can be used, though they wear out much quicker.


Infographic Summarizing the Greek Rally Course

As in the previous year, the service park was set up in Lamia, 220 km north of Athens. However, there were notable changes to the stage layout. For the first time, the rally did not pass through Athens, cutting out the long transit to the city to allow more rest time. The opening stage, Ano Pavliani, was nearly new, while SS12 was a super special stage created by closing off a section of the A1 road between Malakas and Avlona. The stage took place near an ECO gas station (the official sponsor of the rally), with free entry, a treat for rally fans in the nearby Peloponnese region


Friday featured the longest leg of the rally, with three long stages over 20 km each, repeated around Lamia, totaling 135.02 km. Saturday’s stages took the competitors through southern Greece’s Loutraki area, starting with Rengini, the longest stage of the rally at 28.67 km, and finishing with SS12 ECO, covering six stages and 116.23 km. Sunday’s three stages, including the new 19.47 km Inohori and two passes through Eleftherohori, totaling 54.05 km, determined the final winner.


The Hyundai team rally drivers are gathered together

Hyundai showed a mix of caution and confidence ahead of the Rally Acropolis.


The rally saw three teams entering nine cars in total, each fielding three Rally1 cars. Hyundai Motorsport entered Thierry Neuville, Ott Tänak, and Dani Sordo—the same trio that dominated the podium in 2022. Leading the championship points, Neuville won the 2022 Greek Rally but retired in 2023. In a pre-race interview, Neuville noted that the Acropolis Rally, with its wide but rough and slow terrain, could bring out the best in their current car. However, while it’s a fun event for drivers, it’s extremely tough on both the vehicle and crew.

Dani Sordo, who last competed in Portugal and Italy then missed four rallies, also expressed concern about the rocky roads and the heat but felt prepared due to similar rallies earlier in the season. Starting later in the day, Sordo hoped to use his later starting position to his advantage.


Dani Sordo is doing an interview

Sordo returned to the cockpit of Hyundai’s third Rally1 car after a four-race absence.


In Finland, Toyota fielded as many as five Rally1 cars, but for this event, they returned to a three-car lineup with Elfyn Evans, Takamoto Katsuta, and Sébastien Ogier. After his win in Finland, Ogier moved up to second in the points standings. Although initially planning to compete in only selected events as a part-time driver following his achievement of eight championship titles, Ogier decided to race in the remaining events to challenge for another championship. Ironically, despite being a part-timer, he has delivered the best results for the team so far. With a ninth title, Ogier could tie Sébastien Loeb’s record.


M-Sport Ford entered Adrien Fourmaux and Grégoire Munster, along with veteran Greek driver Jourdan Serderidis. Fourmaux, currently fifth in the standings with four podium finishes this season, is looking to continue his strong form. Serderidis, competing as a privateer for the first time since the Safari Rally, is the oldest participant in the event at 60 years old.


In the support class WRC2, Sami Pajari and Yohan Rossel went head-to-head. Championship leader Peter Solberg was not registered for this round, making this a crucial points battle between Pajari and Rossel, who are second and third in the standings. The results from this event could significantly impact the WRC2 championship title. Other entrants include Juha Liimatainen, Jan Solans, Gus Greensmith, and Kajetan Kajetanowicz.


Meanwhile, this event marks the final round of the Junior WRC season. Starting in Sweden’s snowy conditions and passing through Croatia, Italy, and Finland, the season concludes in Greece. With double points awarded in the final round, there's a good chance for a last-minute shakeup. The winner also earns a spot in next year's WRC2. Estonia's Romet Jürgenson currently leads the points standings, with Australia's Taylor Gill trailing by just eight points.


Rally 1 machine running down the ramp

The rough terrain of the Acropolis Rally forced drivers to carefully consider their tire choices.

On Friday, September 6th, the first day of the Greek Rally began. Starting with the opening stage at Ano Pavliani, followed by Dafni and Tarzan, all of which were long stages over 20 km each. The total distance for SS1 through SS6 was 135.02 km. Due to the dry weather, high temperatures, and expected dust, conditions were challenging. Championship leader Thierry Neuville was the first to take to the stage, followed by Sébastien Ogier, Ott Tänak, Elfyn Evans, Adrien Fourmaux, Takamoto Katsuta, and Dani Sordo. Most Rally1 drivers opted for hard tires as their main choice, with some using soft tires as spares. Sordo and the Ford duo chose all-hard tires, while Neuville and Tänak packed two soft spares. Ogiers choice was more unusual, with three hard and three soft tires.

WRC Rally 1 machine running down the ramp

Thierry Neuville faced engine trouble early in the rally. (Photo: WRC)


After finishing the stage, Neuville explained his difficult situation: "Quite dry today, so difficult, narrow... the car is so lazy, didn’t feel good. My time is for sure very very bad. I’m driving the stage, not rallying. Even then, I hit a rock in the middle of the road. Also issue with the hybrid." He was hampered by engine trouble right from the start, and his struggles were only just beginning. Shortly after, Evans had to stop due to a tire puncture. Ogier set the fastest time in the opening stage, with Tanak close behind.

Greece Rally Event In Progress

As expected, the harsh terrain of the Acropolis Rally caused trouble for many drivers.

In SS2, Katsuta was the fastest, but Tänak took the overall lead. Ogier regained the top spot in SS3 with the fastest time, while Fourmaux climbed to second overall in the tough competition. Evans, who lost speed in SS2, appeared to have significant mechanical issues. His turbocharger needed repairs during the midday service, but he had already fallen too far behind the leaders by then.


Toyota's driver is in trouble

Friday turned out to be an unlucky day for Toyota. (Photo: WRC)

Ogier started the afternoon with the fastest time in SS4, maintaining his lead. However, Fourmaux retired after breaking his steering 10 km into the stage due to a landing mistake. While Neuville had resolved his engine issues, Sordo struggled with a malfunctioning hybrid system. Although Neuville continued to report difficulties in SS5, it was Ogier who encountered a major problem, as his pace suddenly dropped without any clear cause. Tänak seized the opportunity, posting the fastest time and taking over the overall lead, with Sordo and Neuville close behind, waiting for their chance.

What Hyundai Team Rally 1 Machine Looks Like

Neuville set the fastest time in SS6, finishing Friday with Hyundai securing the top three spots.

In SS6, Neuville posted the fastest time once again. In the overall standings, Tänak was in the lead, followed by Sordo and Neuville, giving Hyundai a 1-2-3 finish by the end of Friday. After the day, Tänak commented, "We need to be very grateful for a trouble-free day. It has been very difficult with the temperature and roughness. It's been a very good day, but we all know what's coming." Ogier, on the other hand, lost more than two minutes in SS6, dropping to fourth.


According to Toyota’s post-race analysis, Ogier experienced turbocharger problems similar to those that had affected Evans. With multiple Rally1 retirements, WRC2 driver Robert Virves moved up to fifth overall, followed by Pajari, Munster, Kajetanowicz, Zaldivar, and Gryazin.

What the Acropolis Rally Is In Progress

On the second day, the misfortune that plagued Toyota shifted to Hyundai.

Saturday, September 7th, saw Takamoto Katsuta start the day, followed by Adrien Fourmaux, Jourdan Serderidis, and Elfyn Evans. Neuville, having survived the previous day, no longer had to face the dreaded task of "cleaning" the road. Tire choices were more conservative this time; All three Hyundai drivers and the Ford duo opted for hard tires, while Toyota's privateer Serderidis and Ford's drivers chose two soft tires as spares.

While Toyota endured a nightmare yesterday, today it was Hyundai’s turn to face difficulties. Tänak lost significant time due to two consecutive punctures, allowing Sordo to move into the overall lead, with Neuville in second place. Ogier followed in third, trailing by 1 minute and 41 seconds. Tänak’s two tire changes cost him over four minutes, dropping him to sixth place. Sordo expressed mixed feelings about taking the lead, saying, “It’s nice to be a rally leader. But I don’t want to be like this. We need to win the stages not because the others have problems. I would not take any risks. Of course, it will be nice to win, but I have my own targets."

WRC Rally 1 Machine on the Rock

Rally 1 Machine Running Down the Trough

Tänak was plagued by consecutive punctures but refused to give up. (Photo: WRC)

With Tänak dropping down the ranks, Ogier moved up to third and set the fastest times in SS8 and SS9, narrowing the gap to the leaders. Sordo suffered a tire puncture in SS9, which damaged his right rear panel, but despite emergency repairs, dust began to infiltrate the cabin in SS11, reducing his pace and allowing Neuville to take the overall lead. Ogier, too, was hot on their heels, while Tänak clocked the fastest time in SS10, attempting to close the gap to Ogier.


A jumping rally car


A rally car driving at night

Neuville continued to post strong times in each stage, securing the overall lead by Friday’s end. (Photo: WRC)


By the end of SSS12, Neuville held the overall lead. Sordo clung to second place, though the gap to third-place Ogier had shrunk to just 27.2 seconds. Tänak, in fourth, remained almost two minutes behind Ogier. Pajari overtook Virves to become fifth overall and the leader in WRC2. Meanwhile, Evans, who had recovered from engine trouble on the first day, suffered a rollover in a steep downhill hairpin at SS11 and was forced to retire. Tänak also faced a scare at the same location but avoided rolling over.

What a rally car looks like in a Greek rally

The final showdown began south of Lamia, with Hyundai's trio occupying the top spots.

Sunday, September 8th, featured just three stages. After running the 17.47 km SS13 in Inohori, south of Lamia, the drivers continued to the 18.29 km stage in Eleftherohori. Following a service break, the final stage, SS15, which also served as the Power Stage, was held on the same Eleftherohori course. Tire strategies varied widely depending on each driver’s position. Neuville, in the lead and aiming for a safe finish, opted for an all-hard tire setup, including two spares. Tänak went with four soft tires and one hard, while Sordo chose four softs and two hards. Katsuta took a gamble by only carrying one spare to reduce weight and running on all softs. Ogier, like Tänak, went with a mixed strategy to push for the win.

What a rally car looks like in a Greek rally

Thierry Neuville's rally car is racing

Neuville maintained a steady, mistake-free performance, holding his lead. (Photo: WRC)


Ogier set the fastest time in SS13 and passed Sordo to move into second place overall. However, the gap to Neuville remained over a minute. Tänak aimed to secure points in the Power Stage but struggled with engine issues. SS14, a preview of the Power Stage, was tricky due to intermittent patches of mud. Ogier again set the fastest time, while Neuville carefully managed his race, inching closer to victory. He remarked: "The road is destroyed. It’s a nightmare. I was so careful in there. Just tried to avoid any problems."


The Power Stage SS15, the final stage of the rally, began just after 1:00 PM local time. Katsuta, Fourmaux, and Evans took to the course in sequence. However, just before the Hyundai trio could run, the race was temporarily halted due to a medical emergency occurred outside the track. The event resumed at 2:25 PM.


Hyundai team drivers on the podium

Hyundai clinched a 1-2-3 finish, repeating their podium sweep from two years ago.

Yet, the drama wasn’t over; Just 1.6 km into the stage, Ogier rolled his car, causing shockwaves through the Toyota camp. It was an unexpected moment for the eight-time champion. Sordo and Neuville eased off to secure a safe finish, ultimately leading Hyundai to a 1-2-3 victory, recreating their 2022 triumph.


WRC2 saw its own dramatic showdown. Pajari, who was 28.5 seconds ahead of Virves, suffered a slow puncture on the final stage, leveling their overall times. However, Pajari's superior time on the opening stage gave him the win. With multiple Rally1 retirements, Pajari finished fourth overall, followed by Virves, Rossel, Kajetanowicz, Zaldivar, and McErlean. Despite Ogier’s rollover, he managed to finish the stage, securing the points he had provisionally gained up to Saturday. In the Junior WRC class, Jürgenson secured the title with his second-place finish.



The driver is happy to win the trophy

With this massive points haul, Hyundai is now on the verge of clinching both the drivers’ and manufacturers’ championship titles.

Neuville’s victory in the Greek Rally extended his championship lead to 192 points, widening the gap between him and his rivals. Ogier, now at 158 points, trails Neuville by 34 points and faces a close battle with Tänak, who is just four points behind him. Hyundai also increased their lead over Toyota in the manufacturers’ standings, extending the gap from 20 to 35 points, bringing them closer to the coveted double championship title. The 2024 WRC season will continue in Chile from September 26–29, where the drivers will once again tackle tough gravel roads, followed by back-to-back tarmac rallies in Central Europe and Japan to conclude the season.


By Su-jin Lee


In 1991, Su-jin Lee’s passion for cars led him to enthusiastically write letters to the newly launched Korean car magazine Car Vision. This unexpected connection led him to start his career as an automotive journalist. He has served as editor and editorial board member for Car Vision and Automobile Life, and now works as an automotive critic. While eagerly covering the latest trends like electric vehicles, connected cars, and autonomous driving technology, he is also a car enthusiast who secretly hopes that the smell of gasoline engines will never disappear.



Infographic rounding up the rankings up to the Greek Rally