The 2025 FIA World Rally Championship hits its brutal halfway point this week at the legendary EKO Acropolis Rally Greece (26 – 29 June), where jagged rocks, scorching heat, and punishing terrain will push crews and machines to their absolute limits. With championship dynamics tightening, this year’s edition—moved from its usual September slot to the sweltering Greek summer—could be a turning point in the title race.
A True Test of Endurance
Dubbed the Rally of Gods, the Acropolis is notorious for destroying tyres, overheating engines, and testing the endurance of even the most experienced teams. With forecasts expecting temperatures nearing 40°C, the June move only magnifies the intensity.
Elfyn Evans Leads the Charge
Toyota’s Elfyn Evans enters the rally as the championship leader, but his 19-point advantage is rapidly shrinking. Having held a 43-point lead just two rounds ago, Evans now faces the disadvantage of opening the road on Friday’s dusty, single-run stages—a role that often comes with a performance penalty.
“We’re going there at a different time of year to usual, so it has the potential to be very hot and demanding for the cars and the tyres. We also know we will face the familiar challenges opening the road on the Friday.”
Evans said
Toyota Trio vs Hyundai Ambition
Evans isn’t the only Toyota driver in contention. Sébastien Ogier—undefeated on gravel this season with three wins from four starts—and two-time Acropolis winner Kalle Rovanperä are closing in. Rovanperä has been on the podium in three of his last four outings, including one victory.
While Toyota leads the points, Hyundai remains a formidable threat on Greek soil. In 2024, they dominated with a historic 1-2-3 finish. Thierry Neuville, Ott Tänak, and Adrien Fourmaux return, still hunting for the Korean marque’s first win of the season. Tänak sits fourth overall, Neuville fifth, while Fourmaux looks to bounce back from a rough stretch in Portugal and Italy.
M-Sport and Emerging Talent
M-Sport Ford enters the Acropolis with a four-car line-up: Josh McErlean, Grégoire Munster, Mārtiņš Sesks, and veteran Jourdan Serderidis. Ford has a rich history in Greece, with eight wins at this rally contributing to its 13 all-time Acropolis victories.
Takamoto Katsuta and rising star Sami Pajari add further depth to Toyota’s line-up. Pajari, in his first full Rally1 campaign, continues to impress with top-five pace and maturity beyond his years.
What to Expect
The rally kicks off Thursday evening in Athens before moving to the mountainous gravel roads around Lamia. Across 17 stages and nearly 350 competitive kilometres, survival will be as critical as speed. The Acropolis Rally has a long-standing reputation for chaos and unpredictability—and this year promises more of the same.
As the dust settles on Sunday, the 2025 championship picture may be radically different. Will Evans hold firm, or will Greece again reshape the WRC standings?
📅 Dates: 26–29 June 2025
📍 Location: Athens to Lamia, Greece
🛣 Stages: 17
🏁 Total Distance: ~350km competitive
Stay tuned to see which crews will thrive—and which ones will fall—on the ancient roads of the gods.
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