Gravel, Dust, and Drama: WRC2 Finale at the Acropolis Rally Greece
The ancient Greeks couldn't have scripted a more thrilling climax to this year's WRC2 championship. As the dust settled on the final day of the EKO Acropolis Rally Greece, we were treated to a spectacle that would have made the gods of Olympus sit up and take notice. Let me tell you, I've been covering rallies for longer than some of these drivers have been alive, but the drama unfolding in the Greek mountains had even this old hand on the edge of his seat. It was a proper ding-dong battle, with more twists and turns than the Acropolis stages themselves.The Saga of Suninen
Teemu Suninen, that flying Finn, came into the rally as the championship leader. He was carrying the weight of expectation like a rally car loaded with spare parts. But in Greece, things went pear-shaped faster than you can say "puncture." Suninen's struggles reminded me of Colin McRae's infamous '2001 Network Q Rally of Great Britain' - all the speed in the world, but Lady Luck turned her back. It was a case of "to finish first, first you must finish," and unfortunately for Teemu, his Rally Greece was more Greek tragedy than epic victory."Sometimes in rallying, you're the windshield, sometimes you're the bug. Today, we were definitely the bug," Suninen quipped post-rally.
Mikkelsen's Masterclass
While Suninen was wrestling with gremlins, Andreas Mikkelsen put on a masterclass of consistent speed and smart tactics. The Norwegian navigated the treacherous Greek stages like a modern-day Odysseus, avoiding the siren call of overconfidence that's lured many a driver to their doom on these roads.Click here to preview your posts with PRO themes ››
Mikkelsen's performance brought to mind Sébastien Loeb's 2012 Acropolis win - measured, mature, and mighty impressive. It was a textbook example of how to handle the pressure when the championship's on the line.Technical Talk: Taming the Greek Beast
Now, let's get into the nitty-gritty. The Acropolis is notorious for being a car-breaker. It's like running a marathon through a rock quarry. The teams had their work cut out for them:- Suspension setups were crucial. Too stiff, and you risk shattering components on the rough roads. Too soft, and you lose precious seconds in the twisty sections.
- Tire strategy played a massive role. With temperatures soaring, tire wear was more critical than a politician's approval ratings.
- Cooling systems were pushed to the limit. These stages can turn an engine bay into a sauna faster than you can say "overheating."
The Supporting Cast
While the spotlight was on the championship battle, let's not forget the other storylines playing out:- Yohan Rossel showed flashes of brilliance, reminding me of a young Didier Auriol
- Gus Greensmith fought back from early setbacks with the determination of a bulldog
- Nikolay Gryazin's pace on the final day was nothing short of spectacular
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