Ott Tanak boosted his World Rally Championship title hopes with a stunning victory at Acropolis Rally Greece, ending Hyundai’s victory drought by beating Toyota’s Sebastien Ogier by 32.8s.
Hyundai secured a double podium with Adrien Fourmaux finishing third, 3m09.8s adrift, as Tanak’s victory halted Toyota’s streak of six consecutive wins.
The extreme conditions of stifling heat and rough gravel roads led to multiple punctures suffered by WRC’s Hankook tyres throughout the rally.
Tanak efficiently managed his tyres and mechanical issues to secure the win, after initially sharing the lead with Ogier and then overcoming balance issues with his i20 N.
Adrien Fourmaux claimed three stage wins but his podium hopes were dashed by a suspension issue, while Elfyn Evans salvaged crucial points by finishing fourth in challenging conditions on Friday.
The victory positioned Tanak just 12 points behind championship leader Elfyn Evans, with Sebastien Ogier trailing by only nine points, setting the stage for an exciting title battle in the World Rally Championship.
