Loutraki, Greece – June 26, 2026 – The second day of the EKO Acropolis Rally Greece once again demonstrated why the “Rally of the Gods” remains one of the toughest events on the FIA World Rally Championship calendar. Scorching temperatures, unforgiving rocky roads and relentless special stages combined to produce another dramatic chapter in one of rallying’s greatest classics.
After six demanding gravel stages and nearly 130 competitive kilometres, Thierry Neuville emerged as the overnight leader. The Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team driver completed Friday with a 9.7-second advantage over Sébastien Ogier, while teammate Adrien Fourmaux rounded out the provisional podium, capping off an outstanding day for the Korean manufacturer.
Greece immediately reminded everyone why it is so feared
Following Thursday evening’s spectacular super special in Athens, crews headed into the mountains of central Greece for what many consider the rally’s decisive leg.
The Acropolis is unlike almost any other event in the championship. Loose gravel quickly gives way to exposed bedrock, deep ruts and razor-sharp stones capable of destroying tyres or suspension without warning. Combined with temperatures climbing well above 30 degrees Celsius, every kilometre becomes a battle of survival as much as outright speed.
Road position immediately became one of Friday’s defining factors. Championship leaders were forced to sweep loose gravel from the racing line, sacrificing valuable seconds while competitors starting further back benefited from cleaner conditions.
Neuville delivers a near-perfect performance
No driver adapted better to the demanding conditions than Thierry Neuville.
The reigning World Champion combined impressive speed with remarkable discipline throughout the day. Rather than chasing spectacular stage victories at every opportunity, the Belgian concentrated on maintaining a relentless rhythm while avoiding the punctures and mechanical damage that have so often decided the Acropolis Rally.
As the stages progressed, Neuville steadily built his advantage and eventually completed Friday with a 9.7-second lead over Ogier.
It was exactly the kind of measured performance required to succeed on one of the calendar’s most punishing gravel rallies.
Ogier keeps the pressure on
Although road conditions worked against him for much of the day, Sébastien Ogier once again demonstrated why he remains one of the sport’s greatest competitors.
The Toyota driver refused to let Neuville escape, responding with his trademark consistency and intelligent tyre management. Rather than risking everything in search of individual stage victories, Ogier focused on limiting his losses and preserving his chances for the weekend ahead.
Trailing by less than ten seconds at the overnight halt, the Frenchman remained perfectly positioned to launch an attack on Saturday, knowing that the Acropolis Rally is rarely won before the final day.
Hyundai enjoys one of its strongest days of the season
Adrien Fourmaux provided Hyundai with even more encouragement.
The Frenchman consistently featured among the fastest crews throughout Friday, extracting excellent pace from the Hyundai i20 N Rally1 across Greece’s rough mountain roads.
Third overall, 42.4 seconds behind Neuville, placed Hyundai in an enviable position with two cars occupying the top three positions at the end of the day’s action.
The team’s preparation for the Acropolis Rally was clearly paying dividends.
M-Sport Ford delivers a welcome surprise
One of Friday’s biggest stories came from M-Sport Ford.
Josh McErlean produced one of the strongest performances of his Rally1 career to climb to fourth overall, while Mārtiņš Sesks continued to impress with another confident display on loose gravel.
With two Ford Puma Rally1 cars inside the top five, the British squad enjoyed one of its most competitive days of the 2026 season.
Toyota pays the price for opening the road
While Ogier remained firmly in contention for victory, Toyota’s other leading drivers endured a much more difficult Friday.
Championship leader Elfyn Evans and Takamoto Katsuta spent much of the day sweeping the road for those behind, inevitably losing valuable time on Greece’s loose gravel surface.
Oliver Solberg suffered an even more frustrating day after encountering technical problems that dropped him well down the order, effectively ending his hopes of fighting for victory before the rally had reached its halfway point.
Saturday promises another fierce battle
Although Neuville completed Friday as the rally leader, his 9.7-second advantage offered little comfort.
The Acropolis Rally has earned its reputation by punishing even the smallest mistakes. A single puncture, damaged suspension component or momentary lapse in concentration can cost far more than ten seconds on these unforgiving mountain roads.
With Ogier waiting to strike and Fourmaux strengthening Hyundai’s challenge, the battle for victory remained completely open heading into Saturday’s crucial leg.
Overall Classification after Friday
| Position | Crew | Car | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thierry Neuville / Martijn Wydaeghe | Hyundai i20 N Rally1 | 1:26:48.2 |
| 2 | Sébastien Ogier / Vincent Landais | Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 | +9.7 s |
| 3 | Adrien Fourmaux / Alexandre Coria | Hyundai i20 N Rally1 | +42.4 s |
| 4 | Josh McErlean / Eoin Treacy | Ford Puma Rally1 | +1:10.1 |
| 5 | Mārtiņš Sesks / Renārs Francis | Ford Puma Rally1 | +1:16.9 |
| 6 | Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston | Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 | +1:33.2 |
| 7 | Elfyn Evans / Scott Martin | Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 | +2:08.4 |
| 8 | Dani Sordo / Cándido Carrera | Hyundai i20 N Rally1 | +2:49.5 |
| 9 | Andreas Mikkelsen / Jørn Listerud | Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 | +3:10.6 |
| 10 | Sami Pajari / Marko Salminen | Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 | +3:13.1 |