EKO Rally Acropolis: The drama for M-Sport Ford continues as Neville stays on top with best time in ED Pyrgos 2

Thierry Neville continued the same pace and won another special stage, maintaining his lead in the 2022 EKO Rally Acropolis standings.

Ott Tanak, who won on the same course as “ED Tower 1” in the morning, couldn’t keep up his high pace and was 6.3 inches slower to finish fourth, behind Elfin Evans’ Yaris and Danny Sordo’s Hyundai. However, all three Hyundai i20 Ns suffered the same problem: the low battery indicator came on, which for the time being does not visibly affect performance.

Bad luck continued to relentlessly pursue the M-Sport Ford Pumas. This time it was the turn of Gus Greensmith and Iordanis Serderidis to suffer mechanical problems, with the former leaving the stage and the Greek rider before it even started. Pierre-Louis Loubet also has a problem with the engine of his Puma, which also broke down, causing him to lose a lot of time. However, after Greensmith’s elimination, he moved up to sixth place overall.

Toyota Gazoo mechanics have done a great job in service, bringing the Yaris back from Kale Rovanpera, but the young Finn can only hope for tomorrow’s Power Stage points now, although at his pace he seems unable to match Hyundai and threatening his teammate Esapeka Lapi, who remains second overall. Rovanpera drove the seventh best time in “ED Pyrgos 2” and is way behind in the overall standings with rank 16.

The top 10 in the ranking of the EKO Rally Acropolis 2022, after the ‘ED Tower 2’.

1. Thierry Neville for Martin Vidage (Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT)
2. Esapeka Lapi – Yane Ferm (Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT) +37.4”
3. Ot Tanak – Martin Jarveoja (Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT) +38.6”
4. Dani Sordo – Cadito Carrera (Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT) +49.0”
5. Elfin Evans – Scott Martin (Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT) +1′ 01.3”
6. Pierre-Louis Loubet – Vincent Landet (M-Sport Ford WRT) +2′ 12.6”
7. Craig Breen – Paul Nagle (M-Sport Ford WRT) +3′ 25.6”
8. Takamoto Katsuta – Aaron Johnston (Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT NG) +3′ 55.4”
9. Emil Lindholm – Rita Hamalainen (Skoda Fabia Evo) +4′ 56.3”
10. Timou Suninen – Mikko Markoula (Hyundai i20 N Rally2) +5′ 21.6”

Alexandros Tsouloftas is 15th overall and 7th in the WRC2 category. Two places behind is Lambros Athanassoulas, who is struggling with a health problem, while Vassilis Velanis follows in 23rd overall. Also impressive is Nontas Karanikolas, who finished 3rd in the WRC3 Open category and 29th overall.

The statements of the protagonists after ‘ED Pyrgos 2’:

#69 Kale Rovanpera – Jone Haltunen (Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT)

“It’s not easy. We’re just trying to get through the stages. We’re here”.

#8 Ot Tanak – Martin Jarveoja (Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT)

They did not stop for explanations at the special’s STOP.

#11 Thierry Neville – Martin Vidage (Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT)

They hurriedly left the bus stop.

#33 Elfin Evans-Scott Martin (Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT)

“It’s very hot, the brake pedal is burning. Otherwise it was fine.”

#18 Takamoto Katsuta – Aaron Johnston (Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT New Generation)

“A little better than the first round. We have no traction, we slide everywhere. It is not easy”.

#42 Craig Breen – Paul Nagle (M Sport Ford WRT)

“Terrible heat and very high temperatures in the car.”

#4 Esapeka Lapi – Yane Ferm (Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT)

“All good. Luckily I only had one problem with the tire sensors. Clear the way for us.”

#6 Dani Sordo – Cadito Carrera (Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT)

“It’s all ok”. They hurriedly left the bus stop.

#7 Pierre-Louis Loubet – Vincent Landet (M-Sport Ford WRT)

“I lost the brakes, I couldn’t concentrate because of an engine problem.”

Sportish lives the legendary EKO Acropolis Rally together with EKO, the largest Greek marketing company in its category and a main sponsor of the event and also the “EKO Super Special Stage” in OAKA.