After its disappearance from the WRC in 2014, the Acropolis Rally found refuge in the ERC and continues to be based in Loutraki, on the Corinthian Gulf, around 100km west of Athens.
The stages of the two-day 2015 event promise to be very selective and wet weather is predicted. The programme kicks off with a 43.41km test on Saturday afternoon, followed by a further seven stages of between 17 and 20 kilometres in length in the Peloponnesus the next day. Michelin’s partners will be able to choose from its S80, H90 and S4 tyres.
Craig Breen missed the recent trip to Cyprus where his rival Kajetanowicz harvested a good points haul but the Peugeot 208 T16/Michelin driver returns to the ERC after last week’s Tour de Corse. The Irishman is 62 points short of the Pole, but a strong result could keep his title chances alive ahead of the final round in Switzerland (Rallye du Valais). Victory for Kajetanowicz will wrap up the championship battle, however.
Other likely front-runners are Russia’s Alexey Lukyanuk (Ford), Frenchmen Robert Consani (DS3 R5) and Charles Martin (Peugeot), and Bruno Magalhaes (Peugeot) from Portugal. Greek driver Lambros Athanassoulas will have a new Skoda Fabia R5 and knows the stages by heart.
The start ceremony will be held in front of the Acropolis in Athens on Saturday afternoon and the event will conclude 24 hours later in Loutraki. Last year, the Greek round provided the Peugeot 208 T16/Michelin with its first major international victory.