WRC Rally Acropolis 2012

WRC Rally Acropolis 2012 – Preview

RSL Staff

– May 19, 2012Posted in: Featured, News, WRC

The 58th edition of the Acropolis Rally is once again hosted in the coastal town of Loutraki, but the event heads to the capital city of Athens on Thursday for its start ceremony in front of the historic Zappion Exhibition Hall. And, for the first time, the crews will then head immediately off to the opening 25 kilometre stage of the rally.

Friday’s route takes in some of the classic stages but, with only two 15 minute remote service halts in Itea before returning to Loutraki in the evening, crews will need to take care of their machinery during the longest day of the event. Saturday’s stages in the Peloponnese region include the new Ziria stage, while Sunday’s route is the shortest and closest to Loutraki.

The Acropolis Rally is the fourth round of the FIA Production Car World Rally Championship and is also the second round of the FIA WRC Academy.

ACROPOLIS RALLY – ROUTE GRAPHICS

CHANGES TO THE ROUTE SINCE 2011

The route for this year’s Acropolis Rally will look largely familiar to the crews, although two entirely new stages have been included – the 19.89 km Elikonas, which will run as stages 4/8, and Ziria which, at 21.36 km, will be run as stages 13 and 17. All the remaining stages are either identical to those in 2011, or with minor modifications dating back to stages run in 2009.

RALLY DATA

Total distance:
Stage distance:
Number of stages:

1,661.39 km
409.47
22

ACROPOLIS RALLY TIMETABLE AND MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES ORGANISED BY THE FIA

Thursday 24 May
Free Practice (P1 and P2) – 08:00 – 10:00 hrs
Qualifying Stage (P1 and P2) – 10:33 – 11:30 hrs
Shakedown (P3) – 11:30 – 12:30 hrs
Selection of Start Positions (Service Park) – 12:30 hrs
FIA press conference, Press Room – 13:00 hrs
Autograph session (Zappion, Athens) – 16:15 hrs
Ceremonial Start (Zappion, Athens) – 17:00 hrs
SS1, Kineta – 18:28 hrs

Friday 25 May
First car arrives for regroup, remote service – 11:40 hrs
and Media Zone, Itea
First car arrives for regroup, remote service -14:37 hrs
and Media Zone, Itea
First car arrives for final service and Media Zone, Loutraki – 21:05 hrs
End of day press conference, Service Park – During the 45′ service

Saturday 26 May
First car arrives for regroup, service and Media Zone – 13:41 hrs
First car arrives for final service and Media Zone – 20:20 hrs
End of day press conference, Service Park – During the 45′ service

Sunday 27 May
First car arrives for regroup, service and Media Zone – 10:28 hrs
First car arrives for final service and Media Zone – 15:05 hrs
Prize-giving and podium ceremony – 15:45 hrs
FIA press conference, Press Room – 16:20 hrs

FIA PRESS CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE

Thursday 24 May
Chris Duplessis, WRC Academy
Jose Suarez, WRC Academy
Ricardo Triviño, FIA Production Car World Rally Championship
Benito Guerra, FIA Production Car World Rally Championship
Mikko Hirvonen, Citroën Total World Rally Team
Jari-Matti Latvala, Ford World Rally Team
Nasser Al-Attiyah, Qatar World Rally Team
Evgeny Novikov, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team

Sunday 27 May
Winning FIA Production Car World Rally Championship crew
Top three crews in the overall classification
Representative of the winning entrant

ADDITIONAL MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES

‘Meet the Crews’: On Friday and Saturday the top three drivers will attend a ‘Meet the Crews’ session for media and fans. This will take place in the service park on the ‘WRC Stage’ at the earliest opportunity during the end of day 45 minute service.

Autograph Signing Session: On Friday and Saturday selected crews will be available for a 15 minute autograph session. This will take place in the service park during the end of day 45 minute service at the teams’ service areas.