Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila claimed their maiden victory for the Volkswagen Motorsport team today, winning the Acropolis Rally by nearly two minutes. Dani Sordo and Carlos Del Barrio finished second – their best result of the season – and the final podium position was taken by Thierry Neuville and Nicolas Gilsoul who equalled their best WRC result to date.

 

In the FIA World Rally Championship, Sébastien Ogier retains his lead, despite finishing 10th overall. He is ahead of team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala and multiple World Champion, Sébastien Loeb. In the Manufacturers’ Championship, Volkswagen Motorsport continues to head the Citroën Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team.

 

The final day of the sixth round of the FIA World Rally Championship took in two identical loops of two stages, concluding with the 30.14 kilometre Power Stage in which additional Championship points are awarded to the fastest three drivers. Here, Ogier, Evgeny Novikov and Andreas Mikkelsen scooped the three, two and 1 points respectively.

 

While today’s route covered just 83.22 competitive kilometres, conditions were still tricky and crews continued to mix caution with speed to bring their cars to the finish. Latvala was able to ease his pace, such was his advantage, Sordo was determined not to take risks and Neuville continued his measured and mature drive to equal his third position in Rally Guanajuato Mexico. Behind the leading trio, Andreas Mikkelsen set the pace, winning three of the four stages to overhaul Nasser Al-Attiyah and claim fourth overall; his best WRC result.  Mads Østberg finished sixth after a difficult event and Martin Prokop and Mikko Hirvonen rounded off the top eight. 

 

Formula One star Robert Kubica finished 11th overall, behind Ogier, and won the FIA WRC 2 Championship category by nearly 90 seconds.

 

The seventh round of the FIA World Rally Championship takes the contenders to the Mediterranean island of Sardinia for Rally Italia (20-22 June).

 

 

Acropolis Rally – Final Unofficial Classification (subject to scrutineering)