The test special stage of the World Rally Championship in Greece is canceled because the heavy rains endanger the safety of the competitors.
Matti Lehtisaari,
STT Sports
Heavy rains plague the World Rally Championship in Greece, which was scheduled to start on Thursday evening. The race organizers said on Wednesday evening that the test special test planned for Thursday morning will be canceled to guarantee the safety of the competitors.
Ferocious thunderstorms have ravaged the Lamia region, the center of the World Rally Championship, throughout the beginning of the week.
– Due to the extreme weather conditions and to guarantee the safety of the participants, the shakedown in Thursday’s program has been cancelled, the organizers announced in the message service X.
The World Cup rally is scheduled to start on Thursday evening with a short special test in Athens, about 200 kilometers from Lamia.
The rains have forced the race organizer to shorten the Power Stage special test on the final day. The Power Stage will be shortened to nine kilometers, after its original length of 19.77 kilometers.
Weather conditions have changed quickly in Greece. As recently as last week, wildfires endangered the organization of the World Cup Rally. Now the fierce heat has changed to torrential rains.
Heavy rain is still expected on Thursday and Friday
Weather forecasts promise heavy rains for Thursday and Friday, until the traditional hot and dry conditions of the Akropolis rally return again on Saturday. Race director Pavlos Athanassoulas is confident that the rally will be run.
– Friday’s special tests look safe at the moment, and from Saturday the special tests will dry up as much as they can and bring a different kind of challenge than the drivers expect (from a rally). We will do everything necessary to ensure the safety of drivers, spectators and everyone else involved, Athanassoulas assured.
Hyundai’s Finnish driver Esapekka Lappi was surprised by the situation on his account of message service X.
– Notation done. The conditions are really crazy. I have no idea what to expect. We will know on Friday, Lappi wrote.
Rovanpera is required to be calm again
Leader of the World Rally Championship Kalle Rovanperä starts with two-fold thoughts. Even if the rain brings help to Rovanpera, the Toyota driver may still have to turn on the water from the drive.
– You can’t really enjoy this rally when you have to plow the road. This race is more about minimizing the loss, Rovanperä summed up.
Last season, Hyundai smoked Toyota in Greece by taking the first triple win in WRC history. However, according to Rovanperä, Toyota has found remedies for slippery gravel rallies.
– It is essential that you know how to take care of the car. You can’t always pull the gas at the bottom. We have been able to improve the car for such conditions, Rovanperä said.
– Grip was lacking in the fierce gravel races last season, but this year it has already been seen that we are at a better pace. In that sense, there is more credit now, Rovanperä thought.