Ott Tanak Dominates EKO Acropolis Rally, Ends Hyundai’s Victory Drought
In a thrilling finale, Ott Tanak and Martin Jarveoja secured victory at the EKO Acropolis Rally Greece, putting an end to Hyundai’s eight-month-long victory drought. The dynamic duo claimed the top spot, finishing 32.8 seconds ahead of Sebastien Ogier and Vincent Landais on the tense final day of the rally.
However, Tanak faced a setback on the Wolf Power Stage, where he lost 16 seconds to Ogier due to gearbox issues. This mishap cost Tanak the maximum Super Sunday points, allowing Ogier to capitalize and gain an advantage in the overall standings.
The nail-biting competition saw Tanak and Ogier each winning a pair of stages on Sunday, with Adrien Fourmaux and Alex Coria making a triumphant return to the podium for the first time since January’s Monte Carlo rally.
Despite finishing in fourth place, Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin managed to retain their championship lead, albeit with a narrow nine-point gap ahead of Ogier. Tanak currently sits three points behind Ogier in third place in the championship standings.
Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe experienced a scare during the rally when their i20 N lost power on the penultimate stage, resulting in a 1:28s time loss after attempting to reset the computer.
A standout performer of the rally was Oliver Solberg, who clinched sixth place overall and secured his third consecutive victory in WRC2, finishing an impressive 53.8 seconds ahead of former teammate Gus Greensmith.
The top ten was rounded out by Yohan Rossel, Kajetan Kajetanowicz, and Alejandro Cachon, showcasing the fierce competition throughout the event.
For a detailed report on all the action from the EKO Acropolis Rally, be sure to catch Motorsport Monday tomorrow for an in-depth analysis of the thrilling event.
With Hyundai’s victory drought finally coming to an end, the competition in the World Rally Championship is heating up, setting the stage for an exhilarating season ahead.
