The 2026 EKO Acropolis Rally got off to an ideal start for Sébastien Ogier, who recorded the fastest time in the Ellinikon Super Special Stage, in front of thousands of spectators who packed The Ellinikon Sports Park.

The curtain rose on the legendary “Rally of the Gods” on Thursday evening (June 25) with the 1.56-kilometer EKO Super Special Stage, held under sunny skies and temperatures reaching 32°C (90°F).

Nine-time World Rally Champion Sébastien Ogier topped the timesheets, finishing one second ahead of Takamoto Katsuta, while Thierry Neuville completed the top three, 1.1 seconds behind the Frenchman.

Fastest on SS1/17 ✅#WRC | #AcropolisRally 🇬🇷 pic.twitter.com/UL1vvXWIMZ

— FIA World Rally Championship (@OfficialWRC) June 25, 2026

After the finish, Ogier praised the unique atmosphere created by the fans, emphasizing that the Acropolis Rally is a historic and demanding event and that both he and his team are ready for the challenges ahead.

The Ellinikon stage featured a parallel race format, with two cars competing simultaneously, producing exciting head-to-head battles and spectacular action. The choice of Ellinikon marks a new era for the Acropolis Rally, linking one of the WRC’s most historic events with Greece’s largest urban redevelopment project.

The 2026 edition includes significant changes, with the rally headquarters moving to Loutraki, while the route extends across Attica, the Peloponnese, and Central Greece. Organizers aim to preserve the tough character of the “Rally of the Gods” while introducing new elements that strengthen its international profile.

Despite the spectacular start in Athens, drivers know that the real challenges lie ahead on the demanding gravel stages, where high temperatures, rocks, and rough terrain will test both crews and machinery.

The Marathon Begins

As nearly all drivers pointed out, the real rally begins tomorrow.

At the moment, the rally cars and crews are literally boarding the Superfast IV ferry in Corinth, heading to Itea.

The difficult second day begins with the Bauxites stage, followed by the Parnassos stage, while the morning loop concludes with the first pass through Steiri.

In the afternoon, crews will tackle the Helikon stage, return to Steiri for a second run, and finish the day with the Thebes special stage.

Driver Reactions After the EKO Acropolis Rally Super Special

Elfyn Evans:
“It will be a tough rally. Finding the balance between speed and protecting the car will be difficult.”

Takamoto Katsuta:
“I’m always ready. It will be a difficult rally, and we need to be patient.”

Oliver Solberg:
“We have to look after the tyres. It’s great to see so many people here. Now the ferry is waiting for us!”

Sami Pajari:
“We tried our best. The coming days will be very long. Hopefully we’ll be lucky and reach the finish.”

Sébastien Ogier:
“It’s great to see the spectators. This is a historic rally, a difficult one, but we’re ready.”

Adrien Fourmaux:
“It’s great to see all these fans. Tomorrow will be a different day, but thank you.”

Thierry Neuville:
“There’s no need to be overly optimistic. We’ll drive at our own pace.”

Jon Armstrong:
“It’s great to be at the Rally of the Gods. We were sliding a bit. It will be a difficult rally, but we’re ready.”

Dani Sordo:
“It was nice. It was good to see a Spanish battle, even if we weren’t driving the same car.”

Joshua McErlean:
“Tomorrow will be difficult. I hope we enjoy it. You never know what will happen—that’s the magic of rallying.”

Mārtiņš Sesks:
“It’s great to see so many spectators in the heart of the city.”

Jourdan Serderidis:
“We enjoy super special stages. This is the only WRC event we’ll compete in this year, and I’ll do my best.”

Yohan Rossel:
“A good start. I tried to keep clean lines and protect the tyres. It will be a tough weekend for tyre management.”

Léo Rossel:
“We enjoyed the spectators, though not the tyres. Tomorrow will be a big day for us and the car.”

Roope Korhonen:
“It’s great to see so many spectators. Stages like this aren’t really for driving—the rally starts tomorrow.”

Alejandro Cachón:
“It was a special feeling to share the stage with Dani.”

Roberto Daprà:
“We like stages like this. We’re pleased that our time was competitive.”

Andreas Mikkelsen:
“A good start. I was afraid of repeating my 2022 beginning, but everything went well.”

Robert Virves:
“We have a very long rally ahead of us. We need to be smart and avoid problems.”

Gus Greensmith:
“It’s a tough rally, but I feel good.”

Jan Solans:
“Today was different. We’ve completed the first stage; now let’s focus on tomorrow.”

Yuki Yamamoto:
“I’m confident and more relaxed. I can enjoy it, and I think it will be a good rally for us.”

Romet Jürgenson:
“It was nice; the stage wasn’t bad. However, I have a strange feeling about the pressure relief valve.”

Lambros Athanassoulas:
“Super special stages are special for us. Our friends, families, and fans are always here.”

Panagiotis Roustemis:
“It’s great to be here. I hope the spectators enjoyed it.”

Epameinondas Karanikolas:
“It was great, with many spectators. We’ll enjoy every moment of the rally.”