Ott Tänak leads the 2025 Acropolis Rally Greece after a day that pushed cars and crews to the edge. Despite not winning a stage, he managed to pull ahead on Friday’s demanding gravel roads, ending the leg just 3.0 seconds clear of teammate Adrien Fourmaux.
Tänak Sets the Pace in Extreme Conditions
It was not just about speed in Greece, it was about survival. With cockpit temperatures climbing above 50°C and roads crumbling under pressure, Tänak stayed calm.
He and co-driver Martin Järveoja focused on consistency. A minor scare came with a debeaded tyre in SS4, but the damage was minimal.
Tänak now sits atop the leaderboard with a mix of clean driving and tactical restraint.
Adrien Fourmaux Pushes Hard in Pursuit
Adrien Fourmaux impressed with three stage wins. He overcame dust delays and maintained a pace that kept him in contention for a first WRC win.
His Hyundai i20 N Rally1 stayed composed, showing both reliability and raw speed. Fourmaux is very much a threat as the rally heads into its second half.
Power and Performance Through the Heat
Although Tänak didn’t post fastest times, his Hyundai’s stability and cooling setup held strong.
Even under heavy stress, the car showed its strength by resisting punctures and overheating, key to surviving the day’s six brutal tests.
Ogier and Evans Stay in the Hunt
Sébastien Ogier looked sharp early on and even led until SS5. However, earlier damage limited tyre choices, dropping him to third overnight.
Elfyn Evans, forced to open roads, managed fourth. It wasn’t flashy, but the Welshman remains within reach, especially with bonus points up for grabs.
Neuville and Rovanperä Suffer Costly Setbacks
Last year’s winner Thierry Neuville endured two punctures and lost nearly three minutes. His frustration was clear, he felt the pace was there, but luck was not.
Kalle Rovanperä also struggled, stopping to change a wheel in SS5. He’s still running but now far down in seventh.
Grit from Munster, Solberg, and WRC2 Field
Grégoire Munster had a clean run to fifth, wisely avoiding major risks. Meanwhile, Oliver Solberg and Kajetan Kajetanowicz led the WRC2 class and cracked the top ten.
Gus Greensmith and Josh McErlean trailed them, both battling through issues of their own in the heat.
Retirements Begin to Pile Up
Not everyone made it through the day. Mārtiņš Sesks retired with a fuel issue and Sami Pajari exited earlier due to a fluid leak.
Both plan to return for Saturday, but the Acropolis continues to prove why it’s one of the toughest events on the calendar.
Summary
Friday at the 2025 Acropolis Rally Greece delivered all the chaos and drama rally fans expect. Tänak kept his cool in punishing heat, rising to the top without winning a single stage. But with more than 120km of competitive driving still ahead, this rally is far from over.
Disclaimer: All stage times and standings are provisional and subject to final FIA confirmation.
Source: WRC
