Irish drivers Josh McErlean and Jon Armstrong will spearhead the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team line-up as the World Rally Championship moves to the rough gravel roads of the Acropolis Rally Greece this weekend, June 25-28.
The event marks the first true gravel test of the championship’s second half, switching bases to Loutraki on the Gulf of Corinth for 17 special stages covering 323 kilometres.
Josh McErlean and co-driver Eoin Treacy return to Greece aiming to build on their 12th-place finish at the event last year.
“Acropolis is always a tough event,” McErlean said. “We have a decent road position, so there could be opportunities if we stay out of trouble and with plenty of new stages the focus is on a good recce and being well prepared.”
Jon Armstrong and co-driver Shane Byrne return to the Greek stages for the first time since 2022, when Armstrong claimed second in the Junior WRC category. He currently sits 12th in the overall championship standings following an eighth-place finish at Rally Japan.
“It’s going to be a significant challenge with the temperatures we’re expecting, and there are a lot of single-pass stages, so having a strong recce will be important,” Armstrong said. “If we can take a steady approach, focus on ourselves, and do a good job, then it should be a positive event for us.”
A unique addition to this year’s event will see the cars and crews transferred by sea from the Port of Corinth to Itea ahead of Friday’s action, with the vessel serving as an overnight parc ferme.
Kerry Motorsport News 