Red Bull Skoda team will have podium ambitions at Acropolis Rally

High air temperatures, dust and stones on the track and a broken surface – that is what the upcoming Acropolis Rally scheduled to take place in the surroundings of the Corinthian Bay over 17-19 June is going to be all about. In other words, the fourth SWRC event this season will be a challenge for both the drivers and their cars. Ready to appear at full strength (Juho Hänninen/Mikko Markkula and Hermann Gassner jun./Kathi Wüstenhagen), the Red Bull Skoda team wants to fight for podium positions.

Having “grown up” on gravel, Juho Hänninen longs to achieve his first SWRC victory: “Having this opportunity to take part in one of the world's most prestigious rallies and one of my favourite ones at the same time is really great. This rally is incredibly challenging and the roads are indeed broken up, but that has no impact on my and Mikko's plan to win a SWRC event this year at length.”

The other driver of the Red Bull Skoda team, Hermann Gassner jun., is optimistic, too: “Kathi and I have shown that our opposition have to take us seriously. If everything goes our way and if we keep our own pace and avoid defects, I and Katharina want to fight for the podium.”

The event starts on Friday morning and ends on Sunday afternoon. The programme includes 18 difficult stages (349 competition kilometres, 870 kilometres of transfers between the stages). Stage 2 on Friday is the event's longest (39 km), and its length and variable profile will be a tough test for both the drivers and their cars right at the beginning of this rally.