WRC Rally Acropolis Greece 2021

[mknight]

I would say the weather actually helped the roads a lot in staying smooth.

If it were raining all the time they would get muddy with deep mud or deep ruts (see SD after some runs).
If it were dry all the time and the week before they would quickly get broken up by the cars, especially for the second passes.

This way you had just enough moisture (acting as "glue") that neither of these happened.
But sure even if it was dry it wouldn't be recent Turkey-level rough.

As mentioned what I really loved is that some stages were rough (Friday first part) and some were not, that could certainly be kept for the future.

[denkimi]

They say that in Sardinia they weighed this part with this Serial No and found it OK. And in Greece they found it 240 grams heavier. I can't help but remembering when they weighed my car in one scrutineering and found it 20 kilos more than it actually was. I hope they are not the same stewards and not the same level of machinery...
Very weird indeed. Seems like the fia might need to calibrate their scales.

[scn]

Dirtfish says:
"if the 2022 Acropolis is more of a Portugal than a Safari, it might be worth considering reintroducing Turkey to the calendar. We still haven’t forgotten those bruising runs through Çetibeli last year."

I hope the organizers listen to this and stop sending road rollers in the stages. Although I doubt they can bring them back to their actual form, after what they did this year. Acropolis does not have a future being just another Portugal. The Acropolis of 2016-2018 for ERC, held on almost the same roads, were multiple times tougher than this year's. And, if there were no financial problems from the organizers' side, the ERC promoter begged for keeping the rally in its traditional form.


Very weird indeed. Seems like the fia might need to calibrate their scales.

It was not a FIA scale. It is one of the scales used by Greek stewards. I don't know who provides the scales in WRC scrutineering.

[bomber21]

Maybe next year consider only Loutraki stages for a change? Klenia, Aghios Ioannis, Kineta, Aghii Theodoroi, Pissia, Gymno etc? And go back to Lamia for 2023?

Dear organizers, please also consider am Anavyssos SSS. That would be amazing!

[spyros]

I dont understand why all this? the rally was well organized and the stages was awesome. These are not similar to any other rally.

[scn]

I think this became the rally with least retirements in the whole season so far. Only one factory car from each team (Evans, Neuville, Fourmaux) had an issue which cost time but was fixed on the road section, and then Loubet's customer car broke, with likely older parts than on factory cars.
As far as I know, Loubet hit something at the edge of the road. Spectators that saw the car in Elatia said that it was a driver's error.**
Regarding Neuville, Fourmaux and Evans, Neuville had a steering oil leak from one connection, Evans a gear selector problem and Fourmaux a faulty spark plug. None of these issues can be clearly attributed to battering from rough roads. In Finland you have more frequent issues from the jumps.

**Loubet reached the finish of Elatia stage with a Belgian spectator hanging from his open door and acting as a balancing weight. Actually he should be disqualified.

[EstWRC]

Andrea Adamo distributes the points and admits defeat: "To say that we will fight until the end? Blah for social networks

https://www-rtbf-be.translate.goog/sport/moteurs/rallye/wrc/detail_andrea-adamo-distribue-les-points-et-s-avoue-vaincu-dire-qu-on-va-lutter-jusqu-a-la-fin-du-blabla-pour-les-reseaux-sociaux?id=10840555&_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=et&_x_tr_pto=ajax,nv,elem

[scn]

I dont understand why all this? the rally was well organized and the stages was awesome. These are not similar to any other rally.

It was very well organized, the stages were awesome and not similar to any other rally. But they lost their toughness. If there was not a demand from FIA to have one tough rally in Europe, this would not be a problem. Now that Turkey and Cyprus are serious competitors for meeting this demand, it is a problem. Don't get me wrong, the problem is not the Acropolis. The problem is the competition from Turkey and Cyprus.

[spyros]

It was very well organized, the stages were awesome and not similar to any other rally. But they lost their toughness. If there was not a demand from FIA to have one tough rally in Europe, this would not be a problem. Now that Turkey and Cyprus are serious competitors for meeting this demand, it is a problem. Don't get me wrong, the problem is not the Acropolis. The problem is the competition from Turkey and Cyprus.

its ok i understand.In the past i saw RAC, 1000 lakes, San Remo, and Monte but its the wheather and colors here in Greece that makes the difirence.

[bomber21]

If anyone collects rally programmes, I have two spare ones. I can ship to EU and you will pay only the shipping costs.

[tommeke_B]

Back home from the Acropolis Rally. What an event! Beautiful region and great action. Once again thanks to NOT for the useful tips, they helped a lot, especially as there wasn't much to find from recent editions and many roads were new for the younger generation of rally fans. Many very interesting places, some rougher, some very flat. Some faster and slower sections, which created lots of variety for spectating. Also rarely seen so many spectators on a rally. It's just crazy, everywhere you looked there were some people. Seen some very impressive things. The pace of Rovanpera is just incredible, other drivers and teams have a lot of work to do, or we'll have some very boring years like in the Loeb era. Definitely a new "Rally God" on the list. In Rally2 Bulacia has set some huge steps towards becoming a top driver. Seen some great action from him, he looked really confident in comparison to most other WRC2 and 3-drivers.

A few photos:

Tänak on the limit on SS Bauxites
https://scontent.fbru4-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/241734602_6540915049253659_6661303026546784993_n.j pg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=5EM4rItsyekAX_F7Is4&_nc_ht=scontent.fbru4-1.fna&oh=49f5ae385bb8957c974e992f565bb190&oe=6164A200

Fourmaux at the fast jump on SS Thiva
https://scontent.fbru4-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/241824287_6540916779253486_8890323224966076460_n.j pg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=X2ndOklEQ7QAX_T-5xJ&_nc_ht=scontent.fbru4-1.fna&oh=dc0b825dfca9f5f45da73c67ae1bb465&oe=6163305D

Ogier, amazing scenery on SS Pavliani.
https://scontent.fbru4-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/241780365_6540917139253450_6628202524940532304_n.j pg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=G1KTwk72ZAIAX_apzB7&_nc_ht=scontent.fbru4-1.fna&oh=c488fc488ea4bd0f024b4ada8641eb1b&oe=61642DD9

Neuville at the first section of SS Aghii Theodori.
https://scontent.fbru4-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/241702319_6540917239253440_6197904400892815272_n.j pg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=8-arxafVMUYAX91dI2N&_nc_ht=scontent.fbru4-1.fna&oh=9531e3bc44c479bda9eb16bd7dd932ef&oe=616419CE

Prokop completely losing it on the braking before the first tarmac hairpin on shakedown, arriving backwards.
https://scontent.fbru4-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/241756928_6540915749253589_7849135302257336409_n.j pg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=ovuWmy6hCZEAX9HUlvP&_nc_ht=scontent.fbru4-1.fna&oh=bc2e5879c4b22a6d4c404d25322b5683&oe=6163C518

Full album: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=rallyimage&set=a.6540954595916371

[mknight]

https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/colin-clarks-2021-acropolis-rally-driver-ratings/

After being pretty much spot on a few times this is a step back again.

Those that I can't agree with:
Greensmith 6/10...right before Greece there was a big interview how he wasn't good enough on start of the season but noe he is do much better and aims for stage win. Then he goes driving as basically last WRC whole weekend only faster than Loubet. That's back to his 2019 WRC speed.
More importantly what kept him for doing what Fourmaux did (for 3rd time this season) -saving tires and surely memorizing last stage before PS then pushing for good stage result when everyone cruises. Greensmith cruised whole Sunday....
4/10 from me, but obviously the Fiesta is likely not helping.

Sordo
5 or 6/10 from me. He is there to get startposition advantage and beat one of the Toyota regulars, nothing of that happened.

Ogier would get 9/10 from me for for perfect title control.

[hari]

My pictures: http://www.ir7.at/content/fotos_bestof_wrc_acropolis_rallye_2021.html

It was a great rally again in Greece, although quite different to previous visits. In comparison to 2013 we drove about 3 times more (1600 km) this year.

For 2022 my only wish would be to have it based in Loutraki again. But no matter how the route will look like - I will be back next year for sure.


https://www.ir7.at/content/acr21.jpg

[MartijnS]

Great photos Tom and Hari. Just finished mine too!
Enjoyed the rally a lot again, acces to the stages a lot more difficult than 10 years ago. Can't remember any 17km climbs on rocky tracks in those editions and feels like we only did them this year haha.
We took it easy with 3 stages on friday, 3 on saturday and only the middle one on sunday but drove 1750 km too.

https://scontent-amt2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/241999894_4382807988429227_5241103757749868088_n.j pg?_nc_cat=106&_nc_rgb565=1&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=Ew8hPb6UWjcAX8l7IzI&_nc_ht=scontent-amt2-1.xx&oh=75127ebf3595444607c0df56798bd82b&oe=6164C466

https://scontent-ams4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/241775961_4382810688428957_7180239545007823796_n.j pg?_nc_cat=104&_nc_rgb565=1&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=qE5UBQSWBckAX-KiLzP&_nc_ht=scontent-ams4-1.xx&oh=ac20025ac66b0d9d9b172660c18332ae&oe=61640751

https://scontent-amt2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/241705469_4382810731762286_705588491331264882_n.jp g?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=funBEOaw1cQAX9YU8LS&tn=MeCp-gw9qc9Bypjx&_nc_ht=scontent-amt2-1.xx&oh=a2d7de65de1d98a4dba981e65cde6bec&oe=6163FDBE

https://scontent-amt2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/241780156_4382810555095637_6698045148848929074_n.j pg?_nc_cat=109&_nc_rgb565=1&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=cNyCwhy6TKsAX9coRpp&_nc_ht=scontent-amt2-1.xx&oh=41b0f35235d3a8e31fec25a33e0d4303&oe=61670C1C

https://scontent-amt2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/242001332_506259020465856_4651422559715526580_n.jp g?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=JT5LlNFDaFIAX9A2NT1&_nc_oc=AQnyUGOoOsUM3ZNe_6wsIo7eoEfSxgR49k1EOApHu5r JEhBN5e-joXd6tc4RhdR0u0UWURSFrUkapkorfRRkGwYz&_nc_ht=scontent-amt2-1.xx&oh=a866ffe660a2e3bcf6080af49e7768f4&oe=616348CD

More at the following link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=rallymedia&set=a.506260817132343 ! Hope to be back next year!

[Myrvold]

I'll do my usual rally-post. The one I seem to write in every rally thread this year.

Though life being a Loubet-fan.

I have no idea why I'm a fan of him, it just happened...

Yuuup.

Well, I wish the rally itself were a bit rougher, but I really liked it! Especially the slightly more traditional way of not just repeating all stages :)

[dimviii]

guys amazing photos! Thank you!

[bomber21]

These are some great photos, indeed.

[Yugo_para_siempre]

I enjoyed SS6 a fast long left hander after a straight.

Very beautiful passes from many drivers.

But as said, Ogier what a master he was.
Due to the smooth surface and loose at this corner, as 1st car he had clearly lower grip, but he placed the car perfectly in the entry and from this point onwards he was sliding with all his 4 wheels straight, with two very very small oversteer corrections.
He shaped a perfect arc.

Rovanpera almost the same.

Tanak very brutal, beautiful but with more corrections.

Fourmaux very spectacular oversteer.

Thierry very very fast but not perfect slide, a little bit understeer.

At 1:33 of the following video, the aforementioned Ogier's pass...

https://youtu.be/NkBsGV4Vg34

[EstWRC]

great vid like always from this dude https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbLAP05SthM

[spyros]

great vid like always from this dude https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbLAP05SthM

Amazing video.

[dimviii]

NOT must be surely among these gyus

https://www-dirtfish.imgix.net/2021/09/10_Rovanpera09GR21-rk143.jpg?fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=760&ixlib=php-1.2.1&q=70&w=1140&wpsize=gallery-carousel

[Mirek]

At 1:33 of the following video, the aforementioned Ogier's pass...

https://youtu.be/NkBsGV4Vg34

Rovanperä almost like Galli but in his case intentionally (after 2:08) :)
https://youtu.be/NkBsGV4Vg34?t=128

I know it's a sllow corner but you must be a boss to take it like this.

[Yugo_para_siempre]

As already said, if Rovanpera is in this level, to be able to dominate Acropolis in tricky conditions in front of Ogier, Tanak, Neuville and Evans.

I am really scared how far he can go, when he will be 25-26 years old and all the others maybe out of the contention.

I do not see right now any other newcomer that would be even near his level, not even Solberg.

[NOT]

I do not see right now any other newcomer that would be even near his level, not even Solberg.

Loeb started rallying at 21...

you never know what can happen... the only plus for kalle is that rallying is a dead sport when it comes to motorsport... so it does not attract as many talents as before.

[Fredouye]

My photos from this beautiful rally : https://flic.kr/s/aHsmWJ1fhd

[bomber21]

My photos from this beautiful rally : https://flic.kr/s/aHsmWJ1fhd

WOW, these photos are awesome!

[Fredouye]

Thanks a lot :)

[scn]

Loeb started rallying at 21...

you never know what can happen... the only plus for kalle is that rallying is a dead sport when it comes to motorsport... so it does not attract as many talents as before.

I agree, but not fully on the middle sentence. It is not dead for spectators, look how many thousands were in Acropolis, look how many we will be in Monza (I found Ryanair for Athens-Bergamo-Athens for 19,99 euros!!!). But it is surely dead as a sport for young people that do not have very rich dads, and this makes for a serious shortage of young talents.

[Yugo_para_siempre]

My photos from this beautiful rally : https://flic.kr/s/aHsmWJ1fhd

All photos are magnificent.

But the cover photo of Thierry Neuville at Pavliani, early morning is truly fantastic and rare.

The colours are fantastic, the car is beautiful, Thierry's driving also and at the background is the legendary mountain Vardousia and not a random part of it.
It is its highest peak, Korakas which reaches 2.495 m.

After 2006 the Acropolis was not based at Central Greece, it had many stages around Loutraki and at Peloponnese (Ziria is fantastic, both as stage and as scenery). In 2012, a long version, had some stages at Central Greece but not many.

This year we all remembered the legendary old stages but especially we enjoyed the natural beauty of the Central Greece's mountains.
In my opinion Acropolis is not only to find the nice fast turns and enjoy spectacular passes from the world's best.
It is also the beauty of this region, the legendary mountains, the wild high peaks, along with the fir and plane trees (and more others).

[NOT]

every motorsport requires a rich dad if you start young...

[macebig]

Rallying used to be pretty cheap. Till the mid 90s, you could get a removable roll bar structure and 2 bucket seats into your daily Starlet, Cinquecento, 205, 106, AX, 5, Escort or Sierra and go rallying even at WRC level. The problem is that now even the Rally 4 cars are like 80k new. And very few people use Rally 5s which are still something around 25k-30k new. FIA's new leadership needs to find a way to bring down costs significantly.

[NOT]

Rallying used to be pretty cheap. Till the mid 90s, you could get a removable roll bar structure and 2 bucket seats into your daily Starlet, Cinquecento, 205, 106, AX, 5, Escort or Sierra and go rallying even at WRC level. The problem is that now even the Rally 4 cars are like 80k new. And very few people use Rally 5s which are still something around 25k-30k new. FIA's new leadership needs to find a way to bring down costs significantly.

if you want to be serious about motorsport you have to invest a lot of money... the Rally classes are for those that are serious about it, not for the guy next door that wants to have a fun weekend doing his hobby... you can do your hobby using a very cheap car.

[scn]

Rallying used to be pretty cheap. Till the mid 90s, you could get a removable roll bar structure and 2 bucket seats into your daily Starlet, Cinquecento, 205, 106, AX, 5, Escort or Sierra and go rallying even at WRC level. The problem is that now even the Rally 4 cars are like 80k new. And very few people use Rally 5s which are still something around 25k-30k new. FIA's new leadership needs to find a way to bring down costs significantly.

Actually the cost of Rally5 is over 40k. Rally5 has sequential gearbox these days. Also 80k for a new Rally4 are not enough. You must spend at least 30k more for the necessary spares, wheels etc, so the total amount exceeds 100k by far.

Regarding NOT's reply, we must remember that Loeb, Tanak, Rohrl, Ragnotti, Burns, Auriol and almost all flying Finns have started their career with very cheap cars and none of them had a rich dad. This has changed in the past fifteen years and now it is utterly impossible to start with a cheap car, because, even if a young guy buys an old cheap car he will not find any competitive category to enter. He must sell drugs or women in order to find at least 70k for a used Rally4, in order to be in a competitive category with some attention on it.
Of course, for doing your hobby it is stupid to spend such silly amounts. There are wonderful cheap cars with which you can have lots of fun without fear of economic destruction.

[denkimi]

if you want to be serious about motorsport you have to invest a lot of money... the Rally classes are for those that are serious about it, not for the guy next door that wants to have a fun weekend doing his hobby... you can do your hobby using a very cheap car.
You can't find young talent if only the ones with a rich daddy can start in the first place.

25 years ago ond could drive in the lower categories with the money he made working during the year. Nowadays you need to work 4 years just to be able to drive 1.



Actually the cost of Rally5 is over 40k. Rally5 has sequential gearbox these days. Also 80k for a new Rally4 are not enough. You must spend at least 30k more for the necessary spares, wheels etc, so the total amount exceeds 100k by far.

Regarding NOT's reply, we must remember that Loeb, Tanak, Rohrl, Ragnotti, Burns, Auriol and almost all flying Finns have started their career with very cheap cars and none of them had a rich dad. This has changed in the past fifteen years and now it is utterly impossible to start with a cheap car, because, even if a young guy buys an old cheap car he will not find any competitive category to enter. He must sell drugs or women in order to find at least 70k for a used Rally4, in order to be in a competitive category with some attention on it.
Of course, for doing your hobby it is stupid to spend such silly amounts. There are wonderful cheap cars with which you can have lots of fun without fear of economic destruction.
You can start with a cheap car, but there are indeed no categories with decent equal competition. The closest i can see today is the clio rally5. "only" 42k, but with big competition.

A big part of the huge costs comes due to the fia. Even for low level entry cars nowadays the cost of all the safety requirements is huge.

[240RS]

Actually the cost of Rally5 is over 40k. Rally5 has sequential gearbox these days. Also 80k for a new Rally4 are not enough. You must spend at least 30k more for the necessary spares, wheels etc, so the total amount exceeds 100k by far.

Regarding NOT's reply, we must remember that Loeb, Tanak, Rohrl, Ragnotti, Burns, Auriol and almost all flying Finns have started their career with very cheap cars and none of them had a rich dad. This has changed in the past fifteen years and now it is utterly impossible to start with a cheap car, because, even if a young guy buys an old cheap car he will not find any competitive category to enter. He must sell drugs or women in order to find at least 70k for a used Rally4, in order to be in a competitive category with some attention on it.
Of course, for doing your hobby it is stupid to spend such silly amounts. There are wonderful cheap cars with which you can have lots of fun without fear of economic destruction.

I couldn't agree more!!!

A further disadvantage with the current system is that it discourages would-be sponsors who want to take a plunge, without huge outlays, from doing so. The cost of running a Rally4 car necessitates a significant financial commitment, which then demands a significant return, measured largely through media exposure.

[240RS]

Regarding NOT's reply, we must remember that Loeb, Tanak, Rohrl, Ragnotti, Burns, Auriol and almost all flying Finns have started their career with very cheap cars and none of them had a rich dad. This has changed in the past fifteen years and now it is utterly impossible to start with a cheap car, because, even if a young guy buys an old cheap car he will not find any competitive category to enter. He must sell drugs or women in order to find at least 70k for a used Rally4, in order to be in a competitive category with some attention on it.


Lately, Japanese manufacturers seem to have completely switched off from the support classes. There was a time every second or third privately-entered vehicle was a Subaru or Mitsubishi. Today, hardly any are to be found.

[denkimi]

Lately, Japanese manufacturers seem to have completely switched off from the support classes. There was a time every second or third privately-entered vehicle was a Subaru or Mitsubishi. Today, hardly any are to be found.
Both mitsubishi and subaru are not really interested in the european market any more.

And rallying is still mainly a european sport.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Andrea Adamo distributes the points and admits defeat: "To say that we will fight until the end? Blah for social networks

https://www-rtbf-be.translate.goog/sport/moteurs/rallye/wrc/detail_andrea-adamo-distribue-les-points-et-s-avoue-vaincu-dire-qu-on-va-lutter-jusqu-a-la-fin-du-blabla-pour-les-reseaux-sociaux?id=10840555&_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=et&_x_tr_pto=ajax,nv,elem

A Dirtfish podcast said they spoke to Neuville after the rally and he was totally furious about the i20's electrical issues happening on 4 rallies now.

He also admitted, like Adamo, that both the Championships were lost.

DF didnt record their interview but TBF did one too:
https://www.autosportwereld.be/2021/09/13/wrc-thierry-neuville-hoop-op-de-wereldtitels-is-verloren/

[bomber21]

2022 Acropolis Rally SSS will take place in the Olympic Stadium of Athens, just like the legendary 2005 SSS.

[drive]

Any rumours about main rally route? Like this year Lautraki and Lamia or just one region?

[bomber21]

Acropolis Rally Forum was held today:
-Rally cost 3mil euros
-70% was covered bu sponsors
-25000 people were in Syntagma Square SSS
-300000 people were on the mountains
-20mil euros were “circulated” by visitors, sponsors, teams etc during the rally
-Government is committed to bring big motorsport events to Greece