Leg 2 of Acropolis Rally Greece started with a charge from Andreas Mikkelsen (ŠKODA FABIA Rally2 evo) over classic stages in the mountains of Fthiótida, between Lamia and Itea. After the first test, the WRC2 points leader and new co-driver Elliott Edmondson had overtaken Toksport WRT teammates Marco Bulacia/Marcelo Der Ohanessian. But the overnight leaders from South America were not impressed too much. 20 years old Bulacia never lost sight of experienced Mikkelsen. The Norwegian admitted: “I have tried to drive fast, but not over the limit. Marco is driving very well, but I don’t want to risk more than this because we have a championship to think about as well.“
His somewhat cautious approach was not enough to keep Bulacia at bay. With the day’s last stage the Bolivian conquered the WRC2 lead again – albeit by a mere 0.8 seconds. “The feeling was very good. I was enjoying a lot and we were pushing,“ Bulacia commented. After a long Saturday, ALM Motorsport’s Georg Linnamäe/James Morgan (EST/GBR) sit in category fourth with their ŠKODA FABIA Rally2 evo.
In WRC3, it was also the overall leader who set the pace. Frenchman Yohan Rossel took category top spot from overnight leaders Chris Ingram/Ross Whittock (ŠKODA FABIA Rally2 evo). At the end of Saturday, the 2019 FIA European Rally Champions from England even had to be satisfied with WRC3 position three. In the last stage, they had to make way to Kajetan Kajetanowicz/Maciej Szczepaniak from Poland in another ŠKODA FABIA Rally2 evo. However, the difference between the top three in WRC3 is less than 35 seconds. Going into the final leg on Sunday, seven ŠKODA FABIA Rally2 evo crews are listed inside the top 10 in WRC3.
Acropolis Rally Greece comes to the end on Sunday after three more stages covering 69.25 kms. The winner will reach the podium at 1h38 CEST.
Standings Acropolis Rally Greece after Leg 2 (WRC2)
1. Bulacia/Der Ohannesian (BOL/ARG), ŠKODA FABIA Rally2 evo, 2:44:01.8 hrs.
2. Mikkelsen/Edmondson (NOR/GBR), ŠKODA FABIA Rally2 evo, +0.8 sec.
3. Gryazin/Aleksandrov (RAF/RAF), Ford Fiesta Rally2, +3:14.5 min.
4. Linnamäe/Morgan (EST/GB), ŠKODA FABIA Rally2 evo, +4:25.9 min.
5. Prokop/Michal (CZE/CZE), Ford Fiesta Rally2 Mk2, +6:56.9 min.
6. Johnston/Kihurani (USA/USA), Citroën C3 Rally2, +7:16.1 min.
Standings Acropolis Rally Greece after Leg 2 (WRC3)
1. Rossel/Coria (FRA/FRA), Citroën C3 Rally2, +2:45:25.5 hrs.
2. Kajetanowicz/Szczepaniak (POL/POL), ŠKODA FABIA Rally2 evo, +19.1 sec.
3. Ingram/Whittock (GBR/GBR), ŠKODA FABIA Rally2 evo, +34.5 sec.
4. Lindholm/Korhonen (FIN/FIN), ŠKODA FABIA Rally2 evo, +2:30.3 min.
5. Kehagias/Tsaousoglou (GRC/GRC), ŠKODA FABIA Rally2 evo, +9:24.4 min.
6. Velanis/Velanis (GRC/GRC), ŠKODA FABIA Rally2 evo, +12:14.4 sec.
Number of the day: 0.8
After 223 kilometres of competition, only 0.8 seconds separate WRC2 leaders Marco Bulacia/Marcelo Der Ohannesian (BOL/ARG) and Toksport WRT teammates Andreas Mikkelsen/Elliott Edmondson (NOR/GBR). The two ŠKODA FABIA Rally2 evo have three more stages on Sunday to battle it out.
2021 FIA World Rally Championship
Rallye Monte-Carlo 21 – 24 January
Arctic Rally Finland powered by CapitalBox 26 – 28 February
Rally Croatia 22 – 25 April
Vodafone Rally Portugal 20 – 23 May
Rally Italia Sardegna 3 – 6 June
Safari Rally Kenya 24 – 27 June
Rally Estonia 15 – 18 July
Renties Ypres Rally Belgium 13 – 15 August
EKO Acropolis Rally Greece 9 – 12 September
Rally Finland 30 September – 3 October
RallyRACC Rally de España 14 – 17 October
