Thierry Neuville claimed his first World Rally Championship victory in over seven months at the Acropolis Rally Greece, capitalizing on Sébastien Ogier’s dramatic rollover on the powerstage to take the win and revive his title hopes. Ogier, who had been pushing hard to recover lost time after a turbo failure on Friday, rolled his Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, effectively handing Neuville the win in a rally defined by attrition and mechanical issues.
Ogier had clawed his way back to the front, sitting in second overall before the powerstage, but in a desperate push to maximize points, he misjudged a corner, clipping the inside too aggressively. The error sent his Toyota careening into a bank, flipping it onto its side and ending his podium chances. Though he managed to get the car back on its wheels and limp to the finish, the damage was done. Ogier’s crash allowed Neuville to cruise to victory, knowing that finishing safely would boost his championship prospects.
“I didn’t even realize Ogier had rolled until halfway through the stage,” Neuville admitted. “When I saw the car, I asked if it was him, and when I got confirmation, I knew I just had to bring the car home.”
Dani Sordo, who had been trailing Ogier, inherited second place after the Frenchman’s crash. Sordo, driving for Hyundai, acknowledged that his primary focus was securing points for the manufacturers’ championship, and while he lacked pace on Sunday, he was content with his performance. “We came here to do a job, and we did it,” Sordo said, expressing sympathy for his former teammate Ogier.
The final podium spot went to Ott Tänak, who also had a challenging rally but managed to climb to third after Ogier’s misfortune. Tänak suffered from engine troubles on Sunday but secured critical points by finishing second on the powerstage.
Toyota’s weekend was marred by misfortune, with both Elfyn Evans and Takamoto Katsuta encountering major issues. Evans suffered a turbo failure on the first stage, losing significant time, while Katsuta ripped a wheel off his car after a pace note error. With Ogier’s crash, Toyota’s hopes rested on Evans, who finished strong on the powerstage but far from contention for the overall victory.
In WRC2, Sami Pajari made history by winning on a tiebreak after a nail-biting finish against Robert Virves. Both drivers finished with identical overall times, but Pajari was declared the winner based on his faster performance on the opening stage. “It’s a big relief,” said Pajari, acknowledging the tight battle. Virves, despite losing out, graciously congratulated Pajari, noting that the victory was well-deserved.
The Acropolis Rally was a brutal test of endurance, with rough terrain and mechanical failures defining the weekend. Neuville’s calculated drive and Ogier’s unfortunate crash reshaped the championship landscape, leaving fans eager to see how the title fight will unfold in the remaining rounds.
