Fantastic news for motorsport enthusiasts! The Rally Acropolis is one of the most famous and challenging events in the rallying calendar, and the 70th anniversary promises to be a special celebration.

This year’s edition will be particularly exciting, with the super special race at the Water Plaza in Palio Faliro as a major highlight. The fact that renowned drivers will be performing there makes it a must-see event for fans.

Here’s a quick overview for those who want to catch the action:

Date for Super Special Race: September 7th, at the Water Plaza in Palio Faliro.
Ceremonial Start: Beneath the Acropolis.
Total Routes: 15 special routes across Greece.
Seats and Viewing Spots: 6,300 free seats and designated areas around Water Plaza.
Official Website: Information on all routes across Greece should be available on the official website of the Rally Acropolis.

It seems like this year’s Rally Acropolis will be an unforgettable event, so if you’re a fan, don’t miss the chance to experience it! Make sure to plan accordingly, especially if you’re hoping to secure one of the free seats or a prime viewing spot.

Seventy-two crews representing 31 countries will be participating in the anniversary edition of the EKO Acropolis Rally, marking its 70th year on the international sporting scene. The event will kick off on Thursday afternoon, September 7th, under the Acropolis of Athens.

The entry list for the 2023 EKO Acropolis Rally boasts the highest number of crews in the last 17 years.

In addition to its high number of participants, the 10th round of the FIA World Rally Championship stands out for the impressive quality of entrants in each category, including all of the top contenders who will be competing in Greece.

10 Rally1 hybrids, 30 WRC2, and 20 national entries will be supported by the FIA Junior WRC.

Toyota Gazoo Racing will line up with four GR Yaris Rally1 cars. Along with the usual contenders, Kalle Rovanperä, Elfyn Evans, and Takamoto Katsuta, Greek spectators will also have the opportunity to witness the eight-time world champion, Sébastien Ogier.

Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team will compete with three Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrids, driven by Thierry Neuville, Esapekka Lappi and the highly experienced Dani Sordo who returns to their line-up for the first time since Safari Rally Kenya in June.

Following disappointing results in Estonia and Finland, M-Sport Ford aims to change its recent fortunes in Greece. Leading their effort will be 2019 world champion Ott Tänak, who is joined by Pierre-Louis Loubet and Greek driver Jourdan Serderidis who lines up for his fourth start this season.

30 WRC2 entries will be present at EKO Acropolis Rally – among them the protagonists of Greek rallies. The list is highlighted by championship leader Andreas Mikkelsen in a Škoda Fabia RS and Yohan Rossel in a Citroën C3 Rally2, who currently sits second overall in the standings. Their main competition is expected to come from WRC2 Secto Rally Finland winner Sami Pajari in an identical Škoda to Mikkelsen, along with a further trio of Škoda Fabia RS drivers in Oliver Solberg, Gus Greensmith and Nikolay Gryazin, while Finland runner-up Adrien Fourmaux will compete in his Ford Fiesta Mk II.

The reigning Greek Champion Alexandros Tsouloftas (Volkswagen Polo GTi Rally2) will try to repeat last year’s success (9th overall and third in WRC2 Open), while Lambros Athanasoulas will be behind the wheel of a Hyundai i20 N Rally2, once more with the support of Hyundai Hellas.

Eight teams will line up for the final round of the Junior WRC Championship. While Ireland’s William Creighton currently leads the standings, double points on offer for the final round mean the title is anything but secure.

The Alternate Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, Giannis Oikonomou, revealed that the Super Special Stage of the EKO Acropolis Rally 2023 will take place at Water Square.

The new stage will become part of the rally schedule, with the field set to tackle it on Thursday, 7 September, in front of a packed crowd.

Just a short distance from the site of the 2023 EKO Super Special Stage of the Acropolis Rally, the last few particulars for the 10th round of the FIA WRC were unveiled.

In the event presentation, the guests were welcomed by the Alternate Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, Giannis Oikonomou, who also took over as president of the rally’s Organising Committee along with his new duties. As a symbolic gesture, he presented a commemorative plate to Lefteris Avgenakis, now Minister of Rural Development and Food, recognising his predecessor’s valuable contribution in bringing the rally back to the WRC and raising its organisation level over the past two years.

Mr. Oikonomou, from the “Ploes” floating venue where the event was hosted, revealed that the rally on its 70th anniversary will begin in front of what best characterises Greece, namely the seafront of the Athens Riviera.

Therefore, on Thursday, September 7th, directly following the ceremonial start that can only take place at the foot of the Acropolis in Athens, the rally cars will begin their first performance on Greek soil, in and around Water Square.

The EKO Super Special Stage, spanning a distance of 1.48 km, will take place under the watchful eyes of 6,300 grandstand spectators and thousands of sports enthusiasts who will spectate from the designated spectator areas, with no required entry fee. Located between the Tae Kwon Do and Beach Volley Olympic venues, overlooking the Faliro Marina and the armoured cruiser “Georgios Averof”, the EKO Acropolis Rally will once again showcase the beauty of Greece to more than 150 countries across the globe. The cars will compete individually, much like the 14 special stages comprising the rally over the next three days.

From special stages “Loutraki” and “Pisia” to those of Central Greece, with the focus again on Lamia, the route of this year’s edition, as revealed through digital graphs, is perhaps the most representative of its 70-year history.

Our expert team is available to discuss your travel plans and our Jet charter solutions. Contact us or call +30 210 996 7870