Acropolis Rally

The Acropolis Rally of Greece (Template:Langx) is a rally competition that is part of the World Rally Championship (WRC). The rally is held on very dusty, rough, rocky and fast mountain roads in mainland Greece, usually during the Greek hot summer period. The rally is best known for being extremely tough on the competing cars and drivers.

History

The Acropolis Rally has been held since 1951 by the Greek Motorsports Organization Automobile and Touring Club of Greece (ELPA), making it one of the longest-standing competitions in world rallying. Many world renown drivers have won this event including Walter Röhrl, Björn Waldegård, Ari Vatanen, Stig Blomqvist, Juha Kankkunen, Carlos Sainz and Colin McRae, among others.

Due to the nature of the race, with a mix of rough, twisty, fast mountain stages and coupled with blistering heat and choking dust, the Acropolis Rally is one of the toughest on the European and World Rally circuits. The cars used in the race must be built with extra sturdiness in order to cope with the fast but rock-strewn stages. Drivers and co-drivers also have to contend with the pounding terrain and high summer temperatures which often reached 50 °C within the cockpit. Many drivers rate the event as a test of skill, patience, bravery and endurance in the past, going as far as comparing the Acropolis with the infamous Safari Rally.

Super Special Stages (SSS)

The Rally is also known for having used great Super Special Stages over the years.

This trend started with the Marlboro Super Stage held in the city of Anavissos, south of Athens, in the early 90's. After the event base moved to Itea and Lamia in the early 2000's, a Super Special Stage was used in the outskirts of Lilea Parnassos. In 2005 a new stage was introduced; a superspecial stage held within the Athens Olympic Stadium. The Super Special Stage (SSS) was the highlight of the rally as well as the 2005 WRC schedule and in the same year, the Acropolis Rally was awarded the “Rally of the Year” title. It was loved by drivers and fans alike, as the packed stadium provided an "arena" feeling to the stage.

In 2006 there were 2 superspecials, again in the same stadium. The rally headquarters and the service park also moved from Lamia to the Athens Olympic Sports Complex. In the 2007 event, the superspecial (along with the rally headquarters and the service park) moved to the Markopoulo Olympic Equestrian Centre. In 2008 the super special stage was held twice at the Tatoi military airport. In 2018, a superspecial was based again in the Markopoulo Olympic Equestrian Centre.

In the 2022 event, the rally made a return to the Athens Olympic Stadium for the rally-opening super special stage.

Historic locations

The Acropolis Rally started out as a marathon/endurance type event back in the early 50's. When the rally became part of the World Rally Championship after 1973, the crews had to face up to 800 competitive kilometers, in some of the most gruelling stages and conditions imaginable. This trip involved locations all over Greece up to the late 80's, such as the more known Kalambaka and Meteora, stages near Mount Olympus, Attica, Central Greece, and even down south in the Peloponnese. The traditional start always took place under the legendary Acropolis in Athens, and the finish ceremony was carried out in the Panathenaic stadium.

Recent years

With rallies ever so shrinking due to the new demands of the World Rally Championship and transitioning to "sprint" type events, the Acropolis Rally followed suit, basing the whole rally in certain areas and using stages nearby. The classic rally headquarters in the 90's and early 2000's were the cities of Lamia and Itea. In 2005, the rally headquarters and the service park moved from Lamia to the Athens Olympic Sports Complex and then in the 2007 event, the rally headquarters and the service park moved to the Markopoulo Olympic Equestrian Centre. In 2008, the headquarters where situated at the Tatoi military airport, and that was the last time since that the rally was based in Attica, and that special stages were used in that area. In 2009 the rally headquarters and the service park were moved to the Greek city of Loutraki near the Corinth Canal with stages in Argolis and Corinthia used for the rally. For the 2016 ERC Season, the rally headquarters were moved back to the classic and much loved mountain stages near Lamia.

Classic stages

The best stages in Greece are undoubtedly in the Phthiotis and Phokis regions, mainly around the Parnassus and Giona mountains. Recently used stages like Bauxites/Karoutes, Drosohori, Pavliani, Kaloskopi, Elatia, Rengini, Eleftherohori and Moschokarya are favorites amongst drivers and fans alike, due to their fast and flowing nature, allowing the cars to reach their full potential, in a rally where it is otherwise risky to push hard, due to the hard surface which can damage the cars heavily. The same goes for other famous rally stages in Greece, like the Kineta and Aghi Theodori stages around the Geraneia mountains in Corinthia, Prodromos, Livadeia and Thiva in Boeotia, Parnonas in mainland Peloponnese. Other honorable mentions include the fast and beautiful Parnitha stage, the car breaker Ymitos, plus the Assopia and Aghia Sotira stages in Attica, as well as the spectacular Meteora stage which was last used in the late 80's in the longer version of the rally. Several stages feature significant archeological landmarks like the "Klenia-Mycenae" stage which includes the Archeological site of Mycenae. It's worth mentioning, that many favourite classic special stages (f.e. Grammeni Oxia, Gardiki, Hani Zagana, Evangelistria, Prodromos, Aliki, Loukissia) were asphalt paved at some point in the past, so it is no longer possible for them to be used in the Acropolis Rally, since it is a mainly gravel-based event.

The "Tarzan" test in Evrytania

This special stage, originally called the Fourna and Rentina test, is an unusually difficult 30.3 km test. The name "Tarzan" originates from Giorgos Burgos, who was from Fourna in Evritania, lived in Athens and was a police officer. He suffered from tuberculosis and was given a few months to live. He then moved to Fourna, and reached the age of 92. The Acropolis rally passed through the hut of Giorgos, whose nickname was "Tarzan", from the 22nd edition of the rally in 1975. At that time the special route was called "Fourna". The stage first appeared under the new name "Tarzan" in the 26th Acropolis Rally in 1979, in honor of Giorgos Bourgos, who was by then a well known and liked figure amongst the drivers and the organisers of the event. The presence of the full stage in the rally was continuous until the 42nd running of the event in 1995. For its last four years the route was renamed "Rentina-Tarzan", after using the second half of the classic 30,3 km (finishing in Tsoukka).

In the Acropolis Rally of 2003, when the event reached its 50th anniversary, a shortened 20.65 km version of the stage, called "New Tarzan", was held twice, paying tribute to the route's legacy in the event.

Didier Auriol in June 1991, dismantled a wheelrim and his suspension there, losing the lead and the overall victory in the race. Nevertheless, he later stated that "Tarzan" was his favorite Acropolis Rally special stage.

The Tarzan stage returns in the 2021 Acropolis Rally, as the Power Stage of the event, together with many other classic tests.

Return to the WRC in 2021

In August 2020, rumours started to emerge about the possible return of the rally to the World Rally Championship. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis assured that the government was ready to support the organizers financially. In late December of the same year, the Hellenic Ministry of Sport agreed with the Organizing Committee for Motorsport to revive the Acropolis Rally.

In March 2021, it was officially announced that the Acropolis Rally of Gods would return for the 2021 World Rally Championship, taking place in September of the same year, with Lamia as the host city.

Winners

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Toni Gardemeister with Ford Focus RS WRC 05 at the 2005 event

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Harri Rovanperä with a Mitsubishi Lancer WRC05 at the 2005 event.

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Petter Solberg with a Subaru Impreza WRC05 at the 2005 event

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Loeb with Citroën DS3 WRC at the 2011 event

File:Xavier Pons - 2006 Acropolis Rally.jpg

Xavier Pons with a Citroën Xsara WRC at the 2006 event.

File:Nasser Al-Attiyah - 2006 Acropolis Rally.jpg

Nasser Al-Attiyah driving a Subaru Impreza WRX STI at the 2006 event.

Year	Driver Co-driver	Car	Championship
1951	Template:Flagicon Petros Peratikos	Template:Flagicon Fiat 1400
1952	Template:Flagicon Johnny Pesmatzoglou	Template:Flagicon Chevrolet Deluxe	(as ELPA Rally)
1953	Template:Flagicon Nikos Papamichail	Template:Flagicon Jaguar XK120
1954	Template:Flagicon Pétros Papadópoulos	Template:Flagicon Opel Rekord
1955	Template:Flagicon Johnny Pesmatzoglou	Template:Flagicon Opel Kapitän
1956	Template:Flagicon Walter Shock	Template:Flagicon Mercedes-Benz 300 SL
1957	Template:Flagicon Jean-Pierre Estager	Template:Flagicon Ferrari 250 GT
1958	Template:Flagicon Luigi Villoresi	Template:Flagicon Lancia Aurelia B20 GT
1959	Template:Flagicon Wolfgang Levy	Template:Flagicon Auto Union 1000
1960	Template:Flagicon Walter Shock Template:Flagicon Rolf Moll	Template:Flagicon Mercedes-Benz 220 SE	ERC
1961	Template:Flagicon Erik Carlsson Template:Flagicon Walter Karlsson	Template:Flagicon Saab 96	ERC
1962	Template:Flagicon Eugen Böhringer Template:Flagicon Peter Lang	Template:Flagicon Mercedes-Benz 220 SE	ERC
1963	Template:Flagicon Eugen Böhringer Template:Flagicon Rolf Knoll	Template:Flagicon Mercedes-Benz 300 SE	ERC
1964	Template:Flagicon Tom Trana Template:Flagicon Gunnar Thermanius	Template:Flagicon Volvo PV 544	ERC
1965	Template:Flagicon Carl-Magnus Skogh Template:Flagicon Lennart Berggren	Template:Flagicon Volvo Amazon 122S	ERC
1966	Template:Flagicon Bengt Söderström Template:Flagicon Gunnar Palm	Template:Flagicon Ford Cortina Lotus	ERC
1967	Template:Flagicon Paddy Hopkirk Template:Flagicon Ron Crellin	Template:Flagicon Mini Cooper S	ERC
1968	Template:Flagicon Roger Clark Template:Flagicon Jim Porter	Template:Flagicon Ford Escort Twin Cam	ERC
1969	Template:Flagicon Pauli Toivonen Template:Flagicon Martti Kolari	Template:Flagicon Porsche 911 S
1970	Template:Flagicon Jean-Luc Thérier Template:Flagicon Marcel Callewaert	Template:Flagicon Alpine-Renault A110 1600	IMC
1971	Template:Flagicon Ove Andersson Template:Flagicon Arne Hertz	Template:Flagicon Alpine-Renault A110 1600	IMC
1972	Template:Flagicon Håkan Lindberg Template:Flagicon Helmut Eisendle	Template:Flagicon Fiat 124 Sport Spider	IMC
1973	Template:Flagicon Jean-Luc Thérier Template:Flagicon Christian Delferrier	Template:Flagicon Alpine-Renault A110 1800	WRC
1974	Event cancelled due to the oil crisis.
1975	Template:Flagicon Walter Röhrl Template:Flagicon Jochen Berger	Template:Flagicon Opel Ascona 1.9 SR	WRC
1976	Template:Flagicon Harry Källström Template:Flagicon Claes-Göran Andersson	Template:Flagicon Datsun Violet 160J	WRC
1977	Template:Flagicon Björn Waldegård Template:Flagicon Hans Thorszelius	Template:Flagicon Ford Escort RS 1800	WRC
1978	Template:Flagicon Walter Röhrl Template:Flagicon Christian Geistdörfer	Template:Flagicon Fiat 131 Abarth	WRC
1979	Template:Flagicon Björn Waldegård Template:Flagicon Hans Thorszelius	Template:Flagicon Ford Escort RS 1800	WRC
1980	Template:Flagicon Ari Vatanen Template:Flagicon David Richards	Template:Flagicon Ford Escort RS 1800	WRC
1981	Template:Flagicon Ari Vatanen Template:Flagicon David Richards	Template:Flagicon Ford Escort RS 1800	WRC
1982	Template:Flagicon Michèle Mouton Template:Flagicon Fabrizia Pons	Template:Flagicon Audi Quattro	WRC
1983	Template:Flagicon Walter Röhrl Template:Flagicon Christian Geistdörfer	Template:Flagicon Lancia 037 Rally	WRC
1984	Template:Flagicon Stig Blomqvist Template:Flagicon Björn Cederberg	Template:Flagicon Audi Quattro A2	WRC
1985	Template:Flagicon Timo Salonen Template:Flagicon Seppo Harjanne	Template:Flagicon Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 E2	WRC
1986	Template:Flagicon Juha Kankkunen Template:Flagicon Juha Piironen	Template:Flagicon Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 E2	WRC
1987	Template:Flagicon Markku Alén Template:Flagicon Ilkka Kivimäki	Template:Flagicon Lancia Delta HF 4WD	WRC
1988	Template:Flagicon Miki Biasion Template:Flagicon Tiziano Siviero	Template:Flagicon Lancia Delta HF Integrale	WRC
1989	Template:Flagicon Miki Biasion Template:Flagicon Tiziano Siviero	Template:Flagicon Lancia Delta HF Integrale	WRC
1990	Template:Flagicon Carlos Sainz Template:Flagicon Luis Moya	Template:Flagicon Toyota Celica GT-Four	WRC
1991	Template:Flagicon Juha Kankkunen Template:Flagicon Juha Piironen	Template:Flagicon Lancia Delta HF Integrale 16v	WRC
1992	Template:Flagicon Didier Auriol Template:Flagicon Bernard Occelli	Template:Flagicon Lancia Delta HF Integrale	WRC
1993	Template:Flagicon Miki Biasion Template:Flagicon Tiziano Siviero	Template:Flagicon Ford Escort RS Cosworth	WRC
1994	Template:Flagicon Carlos Sainz Template:Flagicon Luis Moya	Template:Flagicon Subaru Impreza 555	WRC
1995	Template:Flagicon Aris Vovos Template:Flagicon Kostas Stefanis	Template:Flagicon Lancia Delta HF Integrale	FIA 2-Litre Cup
1996	Template:Flagicon Colin McRae Template:Flagicon Derek Ringer	Template:Flagicon Subaru Impreza 555	WRC
1997	Template:Flagicon Carlos Sainz Template:Flagicon Luis Moya	Template:Flagicon Ford Escort WRC	WRC
1998	Template:Flagicon Colin McRae Template:Flagicon Nicky Grist	Template:Flagicon Subaru Impreza S4 WRC '98	WRC
1999	Template:Flagicon Richard Burns Template:Flagicon Robert Reid	Template:Flagicon Subaru Impreza S5 WRC '99	WRC
2000	Template:Flagicon Colin McRae Template:Flagicon Nicky Grist	Template:Flagicon Ford Focus RS WRC 00	WRC
2001	Template:Flagicon Colin McRae Template:Flagicon Nicky Grist	Template:Flagicon Ford Focus RS WRC 01	WRC
2002	Template:Flagicon Colin McRae Template:Flagicon Nicky Grist	Template:Flagicon Ford Focus RS WRC 01	WRC
2003	Template:Flagicon Markko Märtin Template:Flagicon Michael Park	Template:Flagicon Ford Focus RS WRC 03	WRC
2004	Template:Flagicon Petter Solberg Template:Flagicon Phil Mills	Template:Flagicon Subaru Impreza S10 WRC '04	WRC
2005	Template:Flagicon Sébastien Loeb Template:Flagicon Daniel Elena	Template:Flagicon Citroën Xsara WRC	WRC
2006	Template:Flagicon Marcus Grönholm Template:Flagicon Timo Rautiainen	Template:Flagicon Ford Focus RS WRC 06	WRC
2007	Template:Flagicon Marcus Grönholm Template:Flagicon Timo Rautiainen	Template:Flagicon Ford Focus RS WRC 06	WRC
2008	Template:Flagicon Sébastien Loeb Template:Flagicon Daniel Elena	Template:Flagicon Citroën C4 WRC	WRC
2009	Template:Flagicon Mikko Hirvonen Template:Flagicon Jarmo Lehtinen	Template:Flagicon Ford Focus RS WRC 09	WRC
2010	Not held
2011	Template:Flagicon Sébastien Ogier Template:Flagicon Julien Ingrassia	Template:Flagicon Citroën DS3 WRC<ref>*Acropolis Rally 2011</ref>	WRC
2012	Template:Flagicon Sébastien Loeb Template:Flagicon Daniel Elena	Template:Flagicon Citroën DS3 WRC	WRC
2013	Template:Flagicon Jari-Matti Latvala Template:Flagicon Miikka Anttila	Template:Flagicon Volkswagen Polo R WRC	WRC
2014	Template:Flagicon Craig Breen Template:Flagicon Scott Martin	Template:Flagicon Peugeot 208 T16 R5	ERC
2015	Template:Flagicon Kajetan Kajetanowicz Template:Flagicon Jarosław Baran	Template:Flagicon Ford Fiesta R5	ERC
2016	Template:Flagicon Ralfs Sirmacis Template:Flagicon Arturs Šimins	Template:Flagicon Škoda Fabia R5	ERC
2017	Template:Flagicon Kajetan Kajetanowicz Template:Flagicon Jarosław Baran	Template:Flagicon Ford Fiesta R5	ERC
2018	Template:Flagicon Bruno Magalhães Template:Flagicon Hugo Magalhães	Template:Flagicon Škoda Fabia R5	ERC
2019 and 2020	Not held
2021	Template:Flagicon Kalle Rovanperä Template:Flagicon Jonne Halttunen	Template:Flagicon Toyota Yaris WRC	WRC
2022	Template:Flagicon Thierry Neuville Template:Flagicon Martijn Wydaeghe	Template:Flagicon Hyundai i20 N Rally1	WRC
2023	Template:Flagicon Kalle Rovanperä Template:Flagicon Jonne Halttunen	Template:Flagicon Toyota GR Yaris Rally1	WRC
2024	Template:Flagicon Thierry Neuville Template:Flagicon Martijn Wydaeghe	Template:Flagicon Hyundai i20 N Rally1	WRC

Number of victories per driver and manufacturer (WRC only)

Since 1973, the first WRC season. Template:Col-begin Template:Col-break

# Wins	Driver (24)	Years won
5	Template:Flagicon Colin McRae	1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002
3	Template:Flagicon Walter Röhrl	1975, 1978, 1983
	Template:Flagicon Miki Biasion	1988, 1989, 1993
	Template:Flagicon Carlos Sainz	1990, 1994, 1997
	Template:Flagicon Sébastien Loeb	2005, 2008, 2012
2	Template:Flagicon Björn Waldegård	1977, 1979
	Template:Flagicon Ari Vatanen	1980, 1981
	Template:Flagicon Juha Kankkunen	1986, 1991
	Template:Flagicon Marcus Grönholm	2006, 2007
	Template:Flagicon Kalle Rovanperä	2021, 2023
	Template:Flagicon Thierry Neuville	2022, 2024
1	Template:Flagicon Jean-Luc Thérier	1973
	Template:Flagicon Harry Källström	1976
	Template:Flagicon Michèle Mouton	1982
	Template:Flagicon Stig Blomqvist	1984
	Template:Flagicon Timo Salonen	1985
	Template:Flagicon Markku Alén	1987
	Template:Flagicon Didier Auriol	1992
	Template:Flagicon Richard Burns	1999
	Template:Flagicon Markko Märtin	2003
	Template:Flagicon Petter Solberg	2004
	Template:Flagicon Mikko Hirvonen	2009
	Template:Flagicon Sébastien Ogier	2011
	Template:Flagicon Jari-Matti Latvala	2013

# Wins	Manufacturer (13)	Years won
13	Template:Flagicon Ford	1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1993, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009
6	Template:Flagicon Lancia	1983, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992
5	Template:Flagicon Subaru	1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2004
4	Template:Flagicon Citroën	2005, 2008, 2011, 2012
3	Template:Flagicon Toyota	1990, 2021, 2023
2	Template:Flagicon Audi	1982, 1984
	Template:Flagicon Peugeot	1985, 1986
	Template:Flagicon Hyundai	2022, 2024
1	Template:Flagicon Alpine-Renault	1973
	Template:Flagicon Opel	1975
	Template:Flagicon Datsun	1976
	Template:Flagicon Fiat	1978
	Template:Flagicon Volkswagen	2013

External links

• Template:Official website
  • Previous Acropolis Rallies
  • History of the Acropolis Rally
• Acropolis Rally of Greece at wrc.com
• Template:In lang Official organizers' site
• Historic Acropolis Rally Template:Webarchive
• Acropolis Rally Results
• Rajd Akropolu blisko WRC
• Μαθήματα ιστορίας: Ειδική “Ταρζάν”