The 2006
FIA World Rally Championship stays in the Mediterranean for round eight in the series' as the circus heads to Greece for the 53rd running of the Acropolis Rally.
The event, which is the last before the mid-season ten week break, will also play host to the fourth round of the 2006 Production Car WRC.
The route includes 18 special stages and 355.62 competitive kilometres. Legs one and two will feature two loops of three stages separated by a midday service halt, with two loops of two tests on leg three.
There will be two passes through the Superspecial in the Olympic stadium built for the 2004 games on Thursday and Sunday, with an expected crowd of more than 60,000 fans. The podium finish is scheduled for 1530hrs in the stadium on Sunday.
Special notes:
There has been a major change in the event's format for 2006. In previous years the rally was based in central Greece around the town of Lamia, 200km north of Athens. This year the service park, Super Special stage and rally HQ will be located at the Athens Olympic stadium complex, making the rally the only event to be based entirely in a capital city.
The route takes crews to the hills north and west of Athens, with no test further than 80km from the service park.
The stages combine roads used in previous years with new stretches of freshly-regraded gravel, however with large rocks littering the roads, the event retains its rough, abrasive character.
With average speeds higher than those in Sardinia and temperatures approaching 40ºC, Greece is one of the toughest events of the year. Despite though that the manufacturer teams must use the same chassis, engine and transmission in Greece as was used in Sardinia.
FIA World Rally Championship news:
Sebastien Loeb extended his lead at the top of the 2006 FIA World Rally drivers' championship from 21 points to 31 points following his win in Sardinia two weeks ago - his fifth win of the season and his fifth in a row. Marcus Gronholm meanwhile remains second, despite not scoring in Italy, while 2005 Junior champion,
Daniel Sordo stays third, having increased his tally from 24 to 30 points - five less than Gronholm.
