Get ready for an epic showdown as the EKO Acropolis Rally Greece, affectionately known as the “Rally of the Gods,” roars into action from June 25th to June 28th, 2026. This thrilling event marks the 8th round of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) season, promising four days of high-octane drama and incredible driving.
For 2026, the rally embraces a new home, relocating its main service park and headquarters to the picturesque coastal city of Loutraki, nestled on the Peloponnese peninsula. The rally will challenge competitors across 17 punishing, rocky gravel stages, totaling 323.77 km of competitive driving. Approximately three-quarters of this year’s route is brand new, forcing drivers to contend with intense summer heat and car-breaking rocky terrain.
The excitement kicks off with a free-to-watch Super Special Stage at The Ellinikon Sports Park in Athens on Thursday, June 25th. Following this Athenian spectacle, cars and crews will board the Superfast IV ferry at the Port of Corinth, traveling by sea to Itea. This unique transport solution allows the ferry to double as a floating service park (parc fermé) before the challenging Friday stages. Friday’s action will feature classic tests such as Bauxites, the formidable Parnassos Mt stage, and two runs on the returning Stiri stage. The main rally action will then unfold amidst the mountains and roads surrounding Loutraki, culminating in the event’s grand finale on Sunday, June 28th.
A packed 58-car entry list is confirmed, featuring the pinnacle of the sport in the top-tier Rally1 cars vying for championship glory, alongside a fiercely competitive group of cars and drivers in the WRC2 category.
Toyota Gazoo Racing arrives in Greece with a strong five-car assault, fielding their GR Yaris Rally1 machines. The formidable lineup includes Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin, Takamoto Katsuta and Aaron Johnston, Oliver Solberg and Elliott Edmondson, Sami Pajari and Marko Salminen, and the legendary Sébastien Ogier with Vincent Landais.
The Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team brings three i20 N Rally1 crews to the fray: Adrien Fourmaux and Alexandre Coria, Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe, and Daniel Sordo with Cándido Carrera.
M-Sport Ford World Rally Team will also be strongly represented on Greece’s notoriously rough roads with their Ford Puma Rally1 machinery. Their crews include Jon Armstrong and Shane Byrne, Josh McErlean and Eoin Treacy, Martins Sesks and Renars Francis, and local hero Jourdan Serderidis alongside Frédéric Miclotte.
The WRC2 entry is equally captivating, with 30 Rally2 cars among the priority two runners. Yohan Rossel and Arnaud Dunand lead the charge in the Lancia Ypsilon HF, while Léo Rossel and Guillaume Mercoiret represent the 2C Junior Team. A host of proven WRC2 frontrunners are also set to compete, including Roope Korhonen, Alejandro Cachón, Roberto Dapra, Andreas Mikkelsen, Robert Virves, Gus Greensmith, Jan Solans, Yuki Yamamoto, Diego Domínguez, and Mille Johansson.
The WRC3 category showcases drivers in Rally3 machinery, featuring promising talents such as Matteo Fontana, Tymek Abramowski, Georgios Vasilakis, and Nataniel Bruun.
Drivers must be prepared for scorching summer temperatures and loose gravel over constantly shifting, slippery roads. The use of hard-compound tires and exceptional car endurance will be absolutely vital, as sharp volcanic rocks and deep ruts can shred tires and snap suspensions in an instant.
