The ‘Rally of Gods’ is the case. With settings its Olympus in the mountains north of Athens, Rally Acropolis will be a crucial test, as this challenge is renowned for its punishing rocky tracks. Since its inception in 1973, this old-school round has held terrific status. Rally Acropolis 2023, scheduled for 7 – 10 September, will be no exception.
Historical insight.
To understand the importance of Rally Acropolis or why it is the “Rally of Gods,” just try to pick the most challenging rally in the WRC. The answer is clear: Acropolis Rally has held the label for years. Established in 1951, it is one of the oldest and most prestigious rallies in the WRC calendar. This iconic event takes its name from the ancient Acropolis of Athens, a symbol of strength, endurance, and perseverance.
The rally’s rich history is filled with memorable moments. From legendary drivers like Walter Röhrl and Colin McRae pushing the limits of their cars to the extreme to nail-biting battles for the championship title, the Acropolis Rally has it all.
The old school one or the route of the Acropolis Rally 2023
In its best tradition, Rally Acropolis 2023 amazed the imaginations of rally fans with its high temperatures, choking dust, and its primary treasure – the twisty gravel mountain roads, coveted with sharp rocks. Add to this the unpredictable rain, which promises a lot of mud, and you will get a fierce challenge. Moreover, the right tyres choice and skills for rallying cars will be the keys to survival. However, that will be a long ride for the 15 tests, covering 307.89km in a total route of 1235.17km!
The rally begins on Thursday’s evening start ceremony. It continues with a crowd-pleasing super special stage on the capital’s stunning seafront. The brutal Friday five speed tests persist the party. There will be no time to rest on Saturday, as it will be the longest day to a close after 141.52km of action. We will begin with Pavliani (24.25km) to rush at Karoutes (28.49km) and Eleftherochori (18.02km) before repeating these again after the service halt.
The excellent show awaits us on Sunday, the most significant day, as it starts with the iconic and one of the most dangerous Tarzan tests (23.37km), followed by the Grammeni (19.77km). The second pass from the last will be the Wolf Power Stage, which will offer bonus points.
Sounds easy, but its time to time to get dirty!
Weather’s issue
The start of the week made rally fans surprised with the forecast. One expected the rallying program in Greece will be cut due to the high fire danger, which has been keeping since August. However, the opposite happened as unprecedented rainfall rushed and coveted the stages with thick mud. Let’s be honest; the last time we saw something similar was in Africa at Rally Kenya. That was wild, and most of the rally drivers found themselves stuck. Therefore, the forecast seems to be ready to bring the extraordinary challenge for all involved.
Although the organizers of the Greece challenge of the FIA WRC have made every conceivable effort to ensure the event proceeds as planned, the possibility of changing the program can still be.
The rainfall has continued until Friday. Despite the calm and sunny forecast for the weekend, Friday’s challenge can force many drivers to retire.
Rally Acropolis 2023: A Game Changer
The WRC round in Greece can be a game-changer for Kalle Rovanperä. The youngest rally champion leads the WRC rivers’ standings and looking to maintain his lead against team-mate Elfyn Evans.
Evans won the Secto Rally Finland and reduced Rovanperä’s lead by more than half. Rovanperä is suited to fight back and can do so if he succeeds on Rally Acropolis 2023.
Completing the four-strong GR Yaris entry are Japan’s Takamoto Katsuta and eight-time world champion Sébastien Ogier. And yes, Ogier is finally back since winning Safari Rally Kenya. Looking forward? Ogier is one of the favorites of the rally in Greece, as he is the most experienced. After all, the French eight-time world champion knows a lot about “difficult conditions.”
About the favorites: Rally Acropolis 2023 can also change the game for another rally star. Setting third, Thierry Neuville trailed Evans by 11 points. The distance is short enough to the Hyundai Motorsport driver hoping to repeat his 1-2-3 finish here 12 months ago. Esapekka Lappi and Dani Sordo are ready to support Neuville with his wishes. But they are not the only ones who dream about podium finish.
M-Sport Ford drivers Ott Tänak and Pierre-Louis Loubet are hungry for victories for this 2023 WRC season. Greek privateer Jourdan Serderidis supports the duo in these ambitions.
Rally Acropolis 2023 Schedule
| Thursday | 07 SEPTEMBER | |
| 17:30 | Ceremonial Start | *** |
| 19:05 | SS1 EKO Super Special Stage | 1.48 km |
| Friday | 08 SEPTEMBER | |
| 08:23 | SS2 Loutraki 1 | 18.10 km |
| 09:26 | SS3 Pissia | 16.43 km |
| 11:41 | Flexi service | *** |
| 12:19 | SS4 Loutraki 2 | 18.10 km |
| 15:12 | SS5 Livadia | 21.03 km |
| 16:45 | SS6 Elatia | 28.32 km |
| 18:25 | Service | *** |
| Saturday | 09 SEPTEMBER | |
| 07:08 | SS7 Pavliani 1 | 24.25 km |
| 08:41 | SS8 Karoutes 1 | 28.49 km |
| 11:05 | SS9 Eleftherochori 1 | 18.02 km |
| 12:30 | Flexi service | *** |
| 14:08 | SS10 Pavliani 2 | 24.25 km |
| 15:41 | SS11 Karoutes 2 | 28.49 km |
| 18:05 | SS12 Eleftherochori 2 | 18.02 km |
| 19:15 | Flexi service | *** |
| Sunday | 10 SEPTEMBER | |
| 08:52 | SS13 Tarzan | 23.37 km |
| 10:05 | SS14 Grammeni 1 | 19.77 km |
| 12:14 | Flexi service | *** |
| 13:15 | SS15 Grammeni 2 Wolf Power Stage] | 19.77 km |
| 15:55 | Podium | *** |
Instead of conclusion
The WRC Rally Acropolis 2023 has a lot of tricks to surprise rally fans. With a stunning venue, challenging stages, powerful rally cars, and a lineup of talented drivers and teams, this event promises to deliver edge-of-your-seat action and exhilaration.
So mark your calendars for 7-10 September. Get out your umbrellas, gloves, and soap stocks, as it is the time for the roar of engines, the tricky roads, liters of mud, sharp rocks, unpredictable dramas, or the Rally of Gods!
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