- Irish pair of Ford Escorts set breakneck pace to take six stage wins on day two of the Historic Acropolis Rally
- A mythical stage in one of the sport’s most historic and prestigious events will thrill crews with unique challenges and some interesting battles.
- The EHRC family will gather in Athens to celebrate the season with special awards and champions will be crowned alongside the stars of the event.
On the second day of the Historic Acropolis Rally, the final round of the 2023 FIA European Rally Championship, Martin McCormack took a commanding lead in his Ford Escort Mk.II RS1800.
The first day’s action featured McCormack co-driving Bernie Mitchell and turbocharged Italian Valter Pirangioli and co-driver Saulo Farnocchia on the stage between the Athens start line and the Athens start line. A battle took place between four-wheel drive Ford Sierra Cosworth 4x4s. The seaside town of Itea served as the gathering’s headquarters.
Six stages await Saturday’s second day, with crews climbing the mountains behind the coastline of Corinthian Bay to experience some of the most rugged terrain of European competition. This stage will be familiar to fans of the World Rally Championship, with a long history of drama and excitement at one of the sport’s most prestigious events, and McCormack rose to the challenge in incredible style. Ta.
The Irishman topped the timesheets in all six tests and ended the day with a 4:55.89 lead over Pirangioli, who suffered a misfiring on the first loop of the stage. British couple Ernie and Karen Graham, who were in third place overall in their Ford Escort RS1800, also lost time at the start of the day, but had enough time to make it through to the first service. We passed safely and then resumed at a much improved pace. They continued to enjoy the unique challenges of Greek gravel rallies.
Fourth place overall was achieved by the superbly dedicated Czech driver Aldrich Kovarik Jr. and co-driver Marek Kapic in a front-wheel drive Skoda Favorite, one of the youngest cars at the event. It was done. As was often the case for a time, this lightweight car belied its modest horsepower and set a series of impressive times.
The Renault 5 Turbo of Frenchman Eric Guignard and co-driver Didier Meffret took fifth place, with the crew satisfied with a trouble-free run in a car designed for smoother roads. .
A three-way battle between Siegfried and Renate Meyer’s Volvo, Paulo Pastutti and co-driver Giovanni Battista Campeis’ Porsche 911 Carrera RS, and Tom Courtley and Alex Lee’s Ford Escort RS1800 was also a big draw. attracted great interest from the audience. Knowledgeable local fans on stage. The day ended in favor of the German husband and wife team.
As with all European Historic Rally Championship events, the competition is ultimately divided into four different categories. Not only does McCormack lead overall, he also leads Guignard’s Renault and Mayer’s Volvo in Category 3 for cars built between 1976 and 1981.
Pirangioli leads Graham and Kovarik Jr. in Category 4, the youngest class for cars built between 1982 and 1990. Pastutti leads the Category 2 category for cars built between 1970 and 1975, giving it a chance to move from third to second in the final points standings. Category 1, which covers vehicles built from 1931 to 1969, is led by Aldrich Kovarik Sr.’s Škoda Octavia Super, which, along with her son, is the owner of the Czech brand’s Giant Killing rally car. It will compete in different eras and will be co-driven by Petr Dufek.
The gathering will conclude on Sunday, followed by the annual awards ceremony, with nearly the entire EHRC family expected to gather for a special ceremony in Athens.