Ogier wins WRC Acropolis Rally Greece Super Special

Toyota’s Sebastien Ogier made the fastest start to WRC Acropolis Rally Greece by winning Thursday evening’s opening Super Special Stage in Athens.

The nine-time and reigning FIA World Rally champion set a benchmark time of 1m38.2s in his Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 (above) on the 1.16-mile, all-asphalt test at the Ellinikon Sports Park, beating Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville by 1.1s in their head-to-head run. And while it will count for little when the rally starts in earnest on Friday on the rough gravel stages north of the Gulf of Corinth, it’s confirmation that Ogier’s in fighting mood as he looks to build momentum in his push for a 10th WRC crown.

The Frenchman’s Toyota Gazoo Racing teammate, Takamoto Katsuta, was second fastest, 1.0s behind Ogier, after defeating WRC points leader Elfyn Evans by four tenths of a second in an all-Toyota duel. Neuville’s i20 N Rally1 completed the top three, one tenth behind Katsuta.

“I think it’s nice to see a lot of people here watching us,” said Ogier of the Athenians packing the fan-friendly stage. “Obviously, the real rally starts tomorrow. But being in Greece is already a pleasure. It’s such a historic rally.

“We know a tough challenge is waiting for us, but that is the case here. We’ll do everything to make our own luck this weekend because it’s going to play a big role in the result.”

Katsuta, who starts Friday second on the road behind Evans, admitted patience will be key once the rally leaves Athens and heads for the mountains.

“I’m always ready,” he smiled. “This is going to be a challenging weekend, so we need to be patient.”

Neuville had topped Thursday morning’s all-gravel shakedown as Hyundai puts its asphalt shortcomings behind it and looks to add to its recent Acropolis domination. The Belgian made a clean start to the event he won in 2022 and ’24 and is targeting a strong result as the WRC begins a run of seven consecutive gravel rallies stretching to the season’s end.

“It’s great to kick off another gravel rally,” said Neuville. “I have a good feeling in the car and we’re just trying to enjoy it and drive at our own pace. The rally isn’t over until the very last stage and the very last corner.”

Fastest on the pre-event shakedown, Thierry Neuville showed the Hyundais can contend when the rally hits the rough stuff. Red Bull Content Pool

Sami Pajari was fourth fastest in another GR Yaris Rally1, 1.2s off Ogier’s pace, and shared the time with Oliver Solberg’s similar machine. Pajari briefly held the lead after beating Hyundai part-timer Dani Sordo’s early benchmark, while Solberg edged M-Sport Ford’s Jon Armstrong by 1.6s in his head to head.

“We’re trying once again to do the best we can,” said Pajari. “Tomorrow, and especially Saturday, will be super long days.”

Evans was sixth overall, 1.4s from the lead time, and immediately turned his attention to the rough gravel stages awaiting him as championship leader and, as first car on the road on Friday, an involuntary road sweeper for the cars behind.

“Clearly it’s going to be a tough weekend,” said Evans. “It’s going to be rocky and quite rough. It’s difficult to find that balance, like usual, between being fast and looking after the car and the tires, but that’s going to be the name of the game.”

Adrien Fourmaux placed seventh in the second factory Hyundai after beating M-Sport Ford’s Josh McErlean in their head-to-head, with Sordo eighth on his return to the third i20 N Rally1.

In WRC2, the second tier of international rallying, Yohan Rossel set the early benchmark in his factory Lancia Ypsilon Rally2, posting a time fast enough for 10th overall and just 0.1s quicker than his brother, Leo, in a 2C Junior Team Lancia.

Post-Super Special, the crews faced a Thursday night ferry transfer from Corinth to Itea before Friday’s opening all-gravel leg. Six stages totaling 80.3 miles await on the longest day of the rally, beginning with the 14.27-mile Bauxites test on Friday morning.

WRC Acropolis Rally Greece, positions after Thursday, SSS1
1 Sebastien Ogier/Vincent Landais (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) 1m38.2s
2 Takamoto Katsuta/Aaron Johnston (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +1.0s
3 Thierry Neuville/Martijn Wydaeghe (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) +1.1s
4 Sami Pajari/Marko Salminen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +1.2s
5 Oliver Solberg/Elliott Edmondson (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +1.2s
6 Elfyn Evans/Scott Martin (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +1.4s
7 Adrien Fourmaux/Alexandre Coria (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) +1.9s
8 Dani Sordo/Candido Carrera (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) +2.5s
9 Jon Armstrong/Shane Byrne (Ford Puma Rally1) +2.8s
10 Yohan Rossel/Arnaud Dunand (Lancia Ypsilon HF Rally2 – WRC2 leader) +2.9s

• Catch WRC action from all rounds of the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship on RACER Network and the RACER+ App. Tune in on Monday, June 29 at 9.00pm ET for full highlights from Acropolis Rally Greece.  

• RACER Network is also your home for the WRC Magazine show, with new episodes landing on the Thursday before every WRC event. You can get up to speed for the rough gravel and searing heat of Acropolis Rally Greece on Thursday, June 25 at 10:30pm ET.   

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