Thierry Neuville tops first pass of Rally Greece

Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville has topped the first pass of shakedown as the pre-event tests get underway ahead of the World Rally Championship’s Acropolis Rally Greece.

Feature image credit: Jaanus Ree // Red Bull Content Pool

Hyundai have hit the ground running at the WRC’s Greek event as Neuville stands as the fastest driver in the first pass of shakedown, a 3.34km gravel test, ahead of the main event, which will get underway later tonight.

The 2024 world champion put in the best time of 2m 16.3 seconds, pipping Toyota’s closest contenders of Oliver Solberg and Sebastien Ogier, who finished second and third overall on the first pass.

Toyota’s Elfyn Evans was the first driver to take to the shakedown test, and the Welshman set the benchmark time to beat: 2m 21.8s. However, this was instantly beaten by his teammates, Takamoto Katsuta and Solberg, who followed him out onto the course.

However, this was not surprising, as the Welshman was the first to head out, meaning Evans was the test’s roadsweeper and helped create more favourable, quicker conditions for those behind.

The first stage of the Acropolis Rally Greece will be held later today with a short 1.86km super special stage, which will get underway at 7:05pm (local time).

2026 Acropolis Rally Greece: The full WRC stage guide and times

First shakedown pass: 

1. Thierry Neuville, Hyundai – 2m 16.3
2. Oliver Solberg, Toyota +0.9s
3. Sebastien Ogier, Toyota +1.3s
4. Joshua McErlean, M-Sport Ford +2.9s
5. Adrien Fourmaux, Hyundai +3.2s
6. Jon Armstrong, M-Sport Ford +3.6s
7. Daniel Sordo, Hyundai +3.8s
8. Sami Pajari, Toyota +4s
9. Takamoto Katsuta, Toyota +4.4s
10. Elfyn Evans, Toyota +5.5s
11. Martins Sesks, M-Sport Ford +5.8s

Jordan Serderidis, M-Sport Ford, finished 15th overall on the first pass of shakedown, 19.3 seconds adrift of Neuville’s best time. 

Read more WRC here:

• Solberg looking to put asphalt troubles ‘behind me’ ahead of Rally Greece
• Acropolis Rally Greece: the latest WRC weather forecast
• Ogier looking forward to Rally Greece challenge with new base
• Elfyn Evans believes the rally championship remains ‘very open’
• FIA conclude Candidate Rally US event for 2027 calendar bid
• Toyota expecting a ‘demanding’ end to 2026 WRC season
• 2026 Acropolis Rally Greece: The full WRC stage guide and times
• Fourmaux aiming for win to get Hyundai title bid back on
• More than Machine success increases WRC profile

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Kamron Kent

Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.

I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

Kamron Kent

Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.