Ott Tanak boosted his World Rally Championship title hopes by winning the Acropolis Rally Greece, ending Hyundai’s victory drought and beating Toyota’s Sebastien Ogier by 32.8s. Hyundai secured a double podium with Adrien Fourmaux finishing third, 3m09.8s adrift, ending Toyota’s streak of six consecutive wins.
Crews faced extreme conditions with stifling heat and rough gravel roads, resulting in numerous punctures. Tanak managed to complete all 17 stages without significant tire damage or mechanical issues, despite suffering a gearbox problem on the final stage.
After initially sharing the lead with Ogier, Tanak overtook him by stage six and maintained the lead throughout the rally, winning five out of six stages on Saturday against Ogier. Fourmaux claimed three stage wins but dropped to third after damaging his suspension.
Championship leader Elfyn Evans ended Friday in fourth, salvaging valuable points to maintain his lead, with Ogier close behind and Tanak only 12 points away. Reigning champion Thierry Neuville led the rally briefly before encountering issues.
