Acropolis Rally

The Acropolis Rally of Greece (officially known as BP Ultimate Acropolis Rally of Greece) is a rally competition, part of the World Rally Championship schedule. The rally is held on very dusty, rough and rocky mountain roads around Athens during the Greek hot summer period. The rally is known for being extremely tough on the competing cars and drivers. The highlight of the rally is the super special stage (SSS). In 2005, it was announced the Rally of the Year.

The Acropolis Rally has been held for 51 years by the Greek motorsports organization Automobile and Touring Club of Greece (ELPA), making it one of the longest-standing in world rallying. Many famous rallying individuals 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 rally, with a mix of rough, twisty mountain stages and coupled with blistering heat and choking dust, the Acropolis Rally is one of the toughest on the world rally circuit. Cars that are used in this race have to 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 reach 50°C within the cockpit.

In 2005 a new stage was introduced; a superspecial stage held within the Olympic Stadium of Athens. 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.

Winners

*2008 – Sébastien Loeb, Citroën
*2007 – Marcus Grönholm, Ford
*2006 – Marcus Grönholm, Ford
*2005 – Sébastien Loeb, Citroën
*2004 – Petter Solberg, Subaru
*2003 – Markko Märtin, Ford
*2002 – Colin McRae, Ford
*2001 – Colin McRae, Ford
*2000 – Colin McRae, Ford
*1999 – Richard Burns, Subaru
*1998 – Colin McRae, Subaru
*1997 – Carlos Sainz, Ford
*1996 – Colin McRae, Subaru
*1995 – Aris Vovos, Lancia (Non WRC race)
*1994 – Carlos Sainz, Subaru
*1993 – Miki Biasion, Ford
*1992 – Didier Auriol, Lancia
*1991 – Juha Kankkunen, Lancia
*1990 – Carlos Sainz, Toyota
*1989 – Miki Biasion, Lancia
*1988 – Miki Biasion, Lancia
*1987 – Markku Alén, Lancia
*1986 – Juha Kankkunen, Peugeot
*1985 – Timo Salonen, Peugeot
*1984 – Stig Blomqvist, Audi
*1983 – Walter Röhrl, Lancia
*1982 – Michèle Mouton, Audi
*1981 – Ari Vatanen, Ford
*1980 – Ari Vatanen, Ford
*1979 – Björn Waldegård, Ford
*1978 – Walter Röhrl, Fiat
*1977 – Björn Waldegård, Ford
*1976 – Harry Källström, Datsun
*1975 – Walter Röhrl, Opel
*1974 – Event cancelled due to the oil crisis.
*1973 – Jean-Luc Thérier, Alpine-Renault (report)
*1972 – H. Lindberg, Fiat
*1971 – O. Anderson, Alpine-Renault
*1970 – Jean-Luc Thérier, Alpine-Renault
*1969 – P. Toivonen, Porsche
*1968 – Roger Clark, Ford
*1967 – P. Hopkirk, Mini
*1966 – V. Sonderstorm, Lotus
*1965 – S.M.Scouc, Volvo
*1964 – Tom Trana, Volvo
*1963 – E. Boriger, Mercedes-Benz
*1962 – E. Boriger, Mercedes-Benz
*1961 – E. Karlsson, Saab
*1960 – V. Shock, Mercedes-Benz
*1959 – V. Levy, Auto Union
*1958 – J. Virorezi, Lancia
*1957 – J. Estaze, Ferrari
*1956 – V. Shock, Mercedes-Benz
*1955 – Johnny Pesmatzoglou, Opel
*1954 – P. Papadopoulos, Opel
*1953 – Nikos Papamichail, Jaguar
*1952 – Johnny Pesmatzoglou, Chevrolet (as ELPA Rally)
*1951 – P. Peratikos, Fiat

Number of victories per driver

Since 1973, the first WRC season (excluding the 1995 event).

clr

External links

* [http://www.acropolisrally.gr/en/ Official site]
** [http://www.acropolisrally.gr/en/show.php?page=links Previous Acropolis Rallies]
** [http://2003.acropolisrally.gr/en/history/review/ History of the Acropolis Rally]
* [http://www.wrc.com/jsp/index.jsp?lnk=401&season=2008&rally_id=GR Acropolis Rally of Greece] at wrc.com
* [http://www.elpa.gr Official organizers' site]
* [http://historic.acropolisrally.gr/ Historic Acropolis Rally]