Acropolis Rally Greece 2022 (8-11 Sep)

[DoN_cz]

Anyone got plans for Sunday? I don't NEED to see two stages, I could live with seeing only the middle one (if there is a nice spot and perhaps can expect a bit less spectators). But it has oficially only one access point in the second half, and according to the spectator guide, it is suitable only for 4x4 and enduro. Though I see there's another access (just not mentioned in the guide) from East -either from Zeli or from North East from Karya. Ive been told the road from Karya has 500m of rough terrain, but perhaps SUV could do it (would be better option for us to use this road, as we are staying in Kamena Vourla). Interesting that the road from Zeli is not drawn in any maps - except the rally map. And also there was a rally stage in 2003. You can see on satelitte images that there is some road, but it's just not drawn in the map.

[NOT]

the first place in Harvati was not very spectacular back in 2012

https://youtu.be/HDZc3PKBmwY of course the cars are a lot faster now.

[dimviii]

Drivers’ quotes:

#69 Kalle ROVANPERÄ / Jonne HALTTUNEN

“So far the stages are quite good. The road condition is fine, except for some parts which are rougher than last year. The surface is not so loose, but in some sections, there are a lot of stones. On Friday it will be bad for us with due to the starting order.”

#8 Ott TÄNAK / Martin JÄRVEOJA

“The stages are in a good condition. It’s quite ok. Still muddy in some places, but nothing dramatic. They look nice.”

#11 Thierry NEUVILLE / Martijn WYDAEGHE

“Is a good mix of smooth and rough parts, with fast or narrow and twisty sections. It’s a little bit of everything! I think it will be dry. I hope on the first day we’ll have a good road position. Then we’ll see what will happen. The road position is more important for the Friday stages.”

#33 Elfyn EVANS Scott MARTIN

“The conditions are quite mixed, obviously because of the weather. But I think it will be quite different during the weekend. In some places is rougher than last year. But not everywhere, it’s quite similar with 2021.”

#18 Takamoto KATSUTA / Aaron JOHNSTON

“It’s rougher than last year. There are more rocks on the ground. I didn’t participate last year so it’s new for me.”

#4 Esapekka LAPPI / Janne FERM

“It’s not so rough as I expected. The stages are in better condition than 8 years ago. The surface is damp, not dry. I hope it will be dry during the Rally because mud is not so funny! It should be no more rain, but in places with no sun under the trees, you don’t know if it will get dry or not. You need a little bit of luck not to brake something or have a puncture.”

#19 Sébastien LOEB / Isabelle GALMICHE

“It’s not that easy. For me there are a lot of new stages. It’s a hard work to make the notes and create something precise. But still, the stages are very nice and interesting. Not so rough as in the past. But we have to remember that cars have improved a lot since then. The suspension is so much better now.”

#6 Dani SORDO / Candido CARRERA

“At the moment it is good. All the stages have different types of surfaces. Some are really rocky and others are a little bit dumped with slippery parts. It’s quite demanding. I don’t think it is rougher than last year.”

#7 Pierre-Louis LOUBET / Vincent LANDAIS

“You need to have very good pace notes. I hope it won’t rain, because that will make it very tricky. It looks better for me than last year, but we will see in the Rally.”

#20 Andreas MIKKELSEN / Torstein ERIKSEN

“We met some nice conditions. It’s a bit a little damper and wet than I expected. But I guess it will get dry until the weekend. Everything is nice, with some new and some old stages. It’s a good mix. The WRC2 entry list is a big one, so we’ll have to fight this weekend. But it’s a tough Rally and you need to survive also. We had a good result here last year and we will try to repeat it.”

#21 Yohan ROSSEL / Valentin SARREAUD

“I like the stages. I think it will be very difficult for the car and us. The first day is very dry and during the second one, the grip is not so high. If we have a good result here, it will count for the Championship.”

#22 Teemu SUNINEN / Mikko MARKKULA

“The stages are really interesting. It’s a big challenge for the driver. They are very technical and quite rough. You have to find the balance between speed avoiding at the same time punctures and problems with the car as well.”

#26 Christopher INGRAM / Craig DREW

“Amazing. I am really excited. It’s one of the most difficult rallies of the season and I am excited to be here. Partially there is mud, but I think it will get dry.”

#28 Georg LINNAMÄE / James MORGAN

“The stages are quite interesting. There are some rough places, but not as much as I expected.”

#47 Georgios KECHAGIAS / Dimitrios SAINIS

“The special stages are very nice. Except for some small parts with mud, everything seems ok. Also, the stages in the Corinthian region are ok. I think that the roads are in a better condition than last year.”

#49 Lambros ATHANASOULAS / Nikolaos ZAKCHAIOS

“I think the Rally is a little bit rougher than in 2021, but the rain has helped. The stages here in Lamia and also in Loutaki are in a good shape. Only Harvati is rough, but as it will be run just once, it won’t be a problem.”

#50 Alexandros TSOULOFTAS / Ross WHITTOCK

“The Rally is more difficult than last year. There is mud partially and I hope it will get dry. It’s very demanding for the tyres. You have to manage very well how to use them during the Rally.”

#52 Emmanouil STEFANIS / Konstantinos STEFANIS

“I think the weather conditions are going to be very crucial. If it doesn’t rain again in the next days it will be fine. Only in parts with no sun, there is some mud. The Rally is very nice, and difficult as well; as is expected.”

#54 Efthymios CHALKIAS / Andreas VIGKOS

“Due to the rain, the stages are smoother than expected. Only partially, in sections between trees, the road is muddy, but not that much. The stages are in very good condition.”

[dimviii]

various photos
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1Q...9JYW9xWmQ1bVBR

[EstWRC]

Katsutas quote is funny

[Rallyper]

Less than 48 hrs until Pickems closing. Just a reminder...

[AnttiL]

Katsutas quote is funny

He did only recce last year

[mknight]

https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/2022-...ly-form-guide/


On Breen:
"It’s simply been a case of trying to push too hard. But if he dials it back just a fraction, then there’s no reason why a top seven result can’t be his."

on Greensmith:
"A top five finish might be a bigger ask this year, especially with Loeb taking to the stages this time round, but if he can repeat last season’s effort, Greensmith could be looking at another decent finishing position."

Wow.... sure it's "no reason he won't make top 7" for Breen and "top 5 might be too much to ask" but still.

[WRCStan]

https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/2022-...ly-form-guide/


On Breen:
"It’s simply been a case of trying to push too hard. But if he dials it back just a fraction, then there’s no reason why a top seven result can’t be his."

on Greensmith:
"A top five finish might be a bigger ask this year, especially with Loeb taking to the stages this time round, but if he can repeat last season’s effort, Greensmith could be looking at another decent finishing position."

Wow.... sure it's "no reason he won't make top 7" for Breen and "top 5 might be too much to ask" but still.

Says Gus was 5th last time but not likely this year. Think you're reading an expectation of top-5?

[svstock]

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