Ogier, Tanak share early WRC Acropolis Rally lead as the rough stuff awaits…

Sebastien Ogier (above) and Ott Tanak couldn’t be separated on Thursday evening’s opening stage of Acropolis Rally Greece, the pair of former WRC champs setting identical times through a dramatic city-center curtain-raiser in Athens.

The 0.93-mile EKO Athens Super Special Stage, which followed a ceremonial start at the iconic Panathenaic Stadium, brought FIA World Rally Championship action back to the heart of the Greek capital for the first time since 2023.

The start of the opening stage was delayed due to traffic congestion on approach routes to Athens, caused by a non-rally-related accident. Despite the setback, large crowds gathered along Vasileos Konstantinou Avenue and Zappeion Square to watch the action unfold.

Hyundai ace Tanak’s benchmark time of 1m18.1s in his i20 N Rally1 was quickly matched by Toyota rival Ogier, although the Frenchman’s run in his GR Yaris Rally1 was far from perfect. The eight-time WRC champion clipped an advertising arch mid-stage and was lucky to escape with only a missing wing mirror on co-driver Vincent Landais’ side.

Ott Tanak matched Sebastien Ogier’s time on Thursday’s short Super Special, but the pair know the real fight starts tomorrow. Jaanus Ree/Red Bull Content Pool

Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta slotted into third overall, just 0.9s off the leading pair, with Tanak’s Hyundai teammates, Adrien Fourmaux and Thierry Neuville, rounding out the top five.

Championship leader Elfyn Evans and two-time WRC champ Kalle Rovanpera posted identical times in their factory Toyotas to sit joint sixth, both 1.5s down.

Martins Sesks in the first of the M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1s, Toyota’s Sami Pajari and Josh McErlean in another Puma completed the top 10 as the crews prepare for Friday’s six special stages in the mountains north of Athens. And after Thursday’s short, sharp blast on asphalt, tomorrow is set to be a much sterner test, with high temperatures and rough, rock-strewn gravel roads lying in wait.

WRC Acropolis Rally Greece, positions after Thursday/SS1

1= Sebastien Ogier/Vincent Landais (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) 1m18.1s

1= Ott Tanak/Martin Jarveoja (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) 1m18.1s

3 Takamoto Katsuta/Aaron Johnston (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +0.9s

4 Adrien Fourmaux/Alexandre Coria (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) +1.0s

5 Thierry Neuville/Martijn Wydaeghe (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) +1.1s

6= Elfyn Evans/Scott Martin (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +1.5s

6= Kalle Rovanpera/Jonne Halttunen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +1.5s

8 Martins Sesks/Renars Francis (Ford Puma Rally1) +2.2s

9 Sami Pajari/Marko Salminen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +3.0s

10 Josh McErlean/Eoin Treacy (Ford Puma Rally1) +3.2s

Watch the rally-closing, bonus points-paying Wolf Power Stage action from Acropolis Rally Greece LIVE on the RACER+ App and RACER.com on Sunday, June 29 at 6:00-7:30am ET, with same-day airings on the RACER Network at 11:00am and 10:00pm, plus Monday, June 30 at 1:00am ET.

Plus, for a deeper dive into the FIA World Rally Championship, check out the WRC Magazine Show on RACER Network. The latest episode premieres at 10:30pm ET on Thursday, June 26, with re-airs on Friday, June 27 (1:30am ET), Sunday, June 29 (9:30pm ET) and Monday, June 30 (12:30am ET).

• The 2025 WRC action continues on RACER+ and the RACER Network. There’s LIVE Wolf Power Stage coverage from all remaining rallies on the RACER+ App and same-day airings on the RACER Network. You can find out more about the RACER+ App at racerplus.com.