Greensmith and Andersson Power to WRC2 Podium in Gruelling Acropolis Rally Greece

Lamia, Greece – 30 June 2025 – Gus Greensmith and co-driver Jonas Andersson once again proved their mettle in the roughest conditions the FIA World Rally Championship can offer, delivering a commanding performance to claim second place in the WRC2 category at the punishing Acropolis Rally Greece. Piloting the Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 for RaceSeven, the British-Swedish duo now solidify their reputation as gravel specialists following their class victory earlier this month at Safari Rally Kenya.

Dubbed the “Rally of the Gods,” the Acropolis lived up to its name with rock-strewn mountain roads, soaring summer heat, and punishing stages that decimated much of the WRC2 field. Despite the high attrition, five Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 crews clawed their way into the WRC2 top 10 – a testament to the car’s durability and the sheer determination of its drivers.

Punctures, Pressure, and Podium Push

The opening leg on Friday set a brutal tone, as multiple front-runners were thrown off course by punctures and mechanical issues. Among the first to struggle were Emil Lindholm and Reeta Hämäläinen, who suffered two punctures in their Toksport WRT-run Fabia RS Rally2, relegating the 2022 WRC2 champions to ninth.

Similarly, Sardinia WRC2 winners Roberto Daprà and Luca Guglielmetti, along with Robert Virves/Jakko Viilo and Lauri Joona/Samu Vaaleri, also fell victim to early setbacks. It was a survival game, and the attrition rate only grew as the stages wore on.

With Oliver Solberg and Elliott Edmondson establishing a commanding lead early on in their Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, all eyes turned to the battle for second place. Greensmith and Andersson, undeterred by delaminating tyres on Friday, entered a fierce three-day duel with Kajetan Kajetanowicz and Maciej Szczepaniak. “In the morning, we had completely delaminated tyres,” said Greensmith. “It was about surviving while still pushing.”

As Greensmith dug in, fellow Škoda driver Martin Prokop — leveraging his extensive Rally Dakar experience — maintained a strong pace. Running fourth by Friday night, Prokop and co-driver Michal Ernst were also battling both the elements and competition aboard their family-run Fabia RS Rally2.

Greensmith And Andersson Power To Wrc2 Podium In Gruelling Acropolis Rally Greece

Saturday’s Showdown and Sunday’s Sprint

Saturday’s stages ramped up the drama and the damage. As crews scrambled to manage tyres and nurse suspension setups, Greensmith and Andersson fought tooth-and-nail to edge ahead of Kajetanowicz, eventually ending the day with a 10-second cushion. “I was saving tyres as much as I could, but they are still wearing out,” Greensmith explained, highlighting the difficulty of preserving pace over some of the roughest gravel stages in the WRC calendar.

Prokop, meanwhile, dropped to sixth but stayed in the fight. “It’s a bit too much – it would be more fun with a Rally Dakar car,” he quipped, putting into perspective just how punishing the Acropolis terrain can be.

By Sunday, the final leg was a high-stakes sprint. Frenchmen Yohan Rossel and Arnaud Dunand surged past Kajetanowicz to challenge Greensmith for second place, closing the gap to just 5.5 seconds before the final stage. But Greensmith kept his cool and his pace, clocking the fastest WRC2 time on the final two stages to seal a hard-earned second place — and a remarkable seventh overall among the entire WRC field.

A Škoda-Heavy Top 10

Martin Prokop held steady to claim sixth in WRC2, followed closely by a resurgent Lindholm in seventh and Virves in eighth. Joona brought home tenth, bringing Škoda’s total to five cars inside the WRC2 top 10 — more than any other manufacturer this weekend.

There was also Škoda success in the WRC Masters Cup, where Mexican driver Miguel Granados and Spanish co-driver Marc Martí took victory in their Fabia RS Rally2, with Turkish duo Uğur Soylu and Şener Güray finishing second.

WRC2 Standings Tighten

With his victory, Solberg now leads the WRC2 championship with 85 points, ahead of Rossel on 82. Greensmith’s consistent form, bolstered by his Acropolis podium, places him third in the standings with 57 points, keeping him firmly in contention as the season approaches its midpoint.

Eyes on Estonia

After the dust and rocks of Greece, WRC2 crews now look to the smooth, high-speed gravel roads of Northern Europe. Rally Estonia, based in the Tartu region from 17–20 July, promises a fast-paced shift in rhythm — but if the Acropolis proved anything, it’s that Greensmith, Andersson, and their fellow Škoda drivers are prepared for whatever the WRC throws their way.

Acropolis Rally Greece (GRC), 26–29 June 2025 – WRC2 Final Classification