The legendary Acropolis Rally, affectionately dubbed the “Rally of the Gods,” once again lived up to its brutal reputation over the weekend of June 26–29, 2025. With searing heat, rock-strewn stages, and mechanical misfortunes striking the world’s best, it was Ott Tänak who emerged victorious from the dust and chaos, claiming the overall win in commanding fashion for Hyundai Motorsport.
The Estonian, alongside co-driver Martin Järveoja, put in a near-perfect drive throughout the weekend, one of only two Rally1 crews to complete the punishing event without major incident. His consistent pace, sharp tyre strategy, and unshakable composure saw him edge out his long-time rival and close friend Sébastien Ogier, who finished second overall but scooped up maximum points on Super Sunday and the Power Stage for Toyota Gazoo Racing.
A Duel Among Titans
The showdown between Tänak and Ogier was the headline act all weekend — a tactical, respectful, yet fiercely competitive battle between two of the sport’s most accomplished drivers. While Tänak held the upper hand overall, Ogier’s stunning pace on Sunday, including a commanding Power Stage performance, almost tilted the narrative in his favour. Ogier admitted surprise at Tänak’s time loss on the final stage, later revealed to be caused by gearbox gremlins, which Tänak nonetheless managed with steely resolve.
Evans Struggles as Road Sweeper Woes Return
Championship leader Elfyn Evans endured a character-building weekend. Burdened with the unenviable role of road-sweeper on Friday, Evans haemorrhaged time on the dusty Greek stages and suffered multiple punctures. Nevertheless, a resilient performance saw him climb to 4th by the day’s end, earning a better road position for the remainder of the rally. Despite flashes of pace, the Welshman could not mount a full recovery and had to settle outside the podium, leaving the championship hunt open.
Neuville’s Nightmare: Reigning Champ Battles Punctures and Penalties
Defending champion and Car No.1 driver Thierry Neuville had a weekend to forget. A series of punctures and a critical engine issue on the penultimate stage forced a system reset mid-stage costing him valuable minutes. He was later slapped him with a 2-minute 50-second time penalty, dropping him out of podium contention. Despite these setbacks, Neuville clawed back to finish 5th overall — a testament to his tenacity and technical brilliance behind the wheel.
Podium Joy for Fourmaux, Dominant Rally2 Win for Solberg
Adrian Fourmaux capitalised on the misfortunes of others to finish an impressive third overall for Hyundai Motorsport. He had been running second before a puncture on Saturday SS10 losing 57.4 seconds to Ogier that saw him drop a position. Still, it marked another solid result for the young Frenchman as he continues to mature into a podium regular.
Meanwhile, Oliver Solberg shone among the Rally2 contenders. The Swede not only dominated his class but also finished 6th overall, outperforming several Rally1 cars. His drama-free run in stark contrast to the chaos surrounding him underlined both his potential and the reliability of his GR Yaris Rally2.
Greek Gravel Claims More Victims
The Acropolis struck hard again in 2025. Two-time world champion Kalle Rovanperä was among those who succumbed to its punishing terrain, collecting multiple punctures before sliding off the road and retiring ironically on the same stage that saw Takamoto Katsuta exit in similar fashion.
With gaps of more than two minutes between crews, the rally served as a reminder of why it holds mythological status in the WRC calendar. Brutal, unpredictable, and utterly unforgiving yet wildly thrilling the Acropolis Rally once again delivered an adrenaline-soaked experience that fans and drivers alike will not soon forget.
Final Top 6 (Overall Results):
- Ott Tänak (Hyundai)
- Sébastien Ogier (Toyota)
- Adrian Fourmaux (Hyundai)
- Elfyn Evans (Toyota)
- Thierry Neuville (Hyundai)
- Oliver Solberg (Toyota Rally2)
As the WRC heads into the next round, the championship race tightens, legends continue to be tested, and the echoes of Mount Olympus still ring with the roars of rallying gods.
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