Belgian Duo Neuville and Wydaeghe Win Acropolis Rally

Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe of Belgium clinched victory at the Acropolis Rally in Greece on Sunday, leading a 1-2-3 sweep for the Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team. The win came after a dramatic final stage that saw veteran French driver Sebastien Ogier crash while in second place.

Spain’s Dani Sordo and Candido Carrera finished second, 1 minute and 36.8 seconds behind Neuville, while Estonians Ott Tanak and Martin Jarveoja took third, 2 minutes and 57.3 seconds back.

Ogier, an eight-time world champion, was vying for second place when his car overturned during the 15th and final stage, which was also a Power Stage awarding extra points. Ogier and co-driver Vincent Landais were unharmed, but the crash dropped them to 51st place on the stage, finishing 22 minutes 59.4 seconds behind stage winners Adrien Fournaux and Alexandre Coria. The crash came shortly after the stage was interrupted to allow an ambulance to assist a spectator.

Ogier ended the rally in 16th place overall, 23 minutes and 44.5 seconds behind Neuville.

“I didn’t know Ogier had crashed, and when I saw his car, I still wasn’t sure it was him… At that point, I knew I just had to bring the car home,” said Neuville, who overcame his own engine trouble earlier in the rally.

The Acropolis Rally is notorious for its harsh conditions, and this year was no exception. Both Sordo and Tanak suffered tire damage on Saturday, allowing Neuville to take the lead. The win extends Neuville’s lead in the World Rally Championship standings, where he now has 192 points, ahead of Tanak with 158 and Ogier with 154.

With three races remaining, Neuville is on track for his first world title, while Ogier, who dominated the sport from 2013 to 2021, faces an uphill battle. The next race is Rally Chile, set for September 26-29, followed by rounds in Central Europe and Japan to conclude the season.

Πηγή: GCT–Komalenko Charlie