EKO Acropolis Rally 2024 is coming and brings changes

By Dimitris Zis

Remain exactly two months to the start of the EKO Acropolis Rally.Through a route significantly differentiated compared to those of previous years will evolve this year’s race. (from 5 to 8 September), as the tenth round of the FIA World Rally Championship for 2024.

The crews that will participate in the 2024 EKO Acropolis Rally will face a new challenge, as the significantly modified route of the race implies a new approach to the management of forces, materials and, of course, tyres. The race timetable includes special stages that highlight its tough character, such as Tarzan, Regini, Agios Theodoros, etc., while special stages (e.d.) that were “embraced” by spectators have been reintroduced. Some of them used to be, such as Oinochori in Fokida and others such as Thebes. Among the changes at the e.d. level is the addition of Ano Pavliani, which will start from Koumaritsi and finish at the starting point of the well-known Pavliani, as well as Dafni, which is a shorter version of the e.d. Pyrgos of previous years.

The most important change in this year’s schedule has to do with the order in which the competitors will be in the regions of Central Greece, Peloponnese and Attica, which will successively host the EKO Rally Acropolis. In particular, for the first time in its history as a WRC round, the race will start from its home town of Lamia. The ceremonial start (Thursday 5 September) will take place in front of the Panhellenic Exhibition of Lamia, where the Service Park and the race HQ are located, with participants staying overnight in the area, as the first leg will unfold between Fokida and Evritania. With the length of the day’s three repeating e.d.s reaching 133.96km, it is a given that no one will choose to approach the race “defensively”, with all that this implies for its evolution.

Saturday’s leg is expected to be just as demanding. The first racing sounds from the race cars will be heard at the Regini e.d., which is similar to last year’s Elatia in the opposite direction, while the crews will continue with the e.d. Thebes. Next stop is the southernmost end of the route, for Agioi Theodoroi and Loutraki, which are variations of the well-known routes in the area. The day will close with a new overland route (to be announced in the next communication) with free entry, which is expected to attract a large number of spectators.

The total 303,23 racing kilometres of the race will be completed on the last day, Sunday, with the e.d. Oinochori and Eleftherochori, with the latter being the Wolf Power Stage of the 2024 EKO Rally Acropolis 2024.