WRC2 Title Hopes Intensify as 17 Škoda Crews Line Up for the ‘Rally of Gods’
Mladá Boleslav, 25 June 2025 – As the 2025 FIA World Rally Championship reaches its gruelling seventh round, all eyes are on the dust, rock and heat of the EKO Acropolis Rally of Gods (26–29 June). Among the most formidable gravel tests on the calendar, this historic Greek epic will feature a commanding presence from Škoda Motorsport, with an impressive 17 Fabia RS Rally2 entries, 14 of which are nominated to score WRC2 points.
At the heart of Škoda’s WRC2 campaign is Roberto Daprà, fresh off a category win at Rally Italia Sardegna. Now third in the overall WRC2 standings, the Italian prodigy—alongside co-driver Luca Guglielmetti—is gunning for another strong result. “It’s another rough rally,” Daprà remarked, “so we’ll try. Let’s see.” Having placed seventh in Greece last year, the Delta Rally Team duo are no strangers to the challenge ahead.
Joining the charge is Gus Greensmith, the British driver currently fourth in WRC2, who will once again partner with Swedish co-driver Jonas Andersson in a RaceSeven-prepared Škoda Fabia RS Rally2. The pair has already celebrated victory at Safari Rally Kenya and secured a podium in Portugal—making this their third nominated event as they look to mount a serious championship challenge.
Also making their return after podium success in Sardinia are Czech veteran Martin Prokop and co-driver Michal Ernst. Driving under the banner of Prokop’s family-run team, their third-place finish at the last WRC round marked a return to form for the 2009 Junior World Rally Champion. With confidence high, the duo enters the Acropolis Rally with momentum and motivation.
Meanwhile, two Škoda crews are out for redemption after a tough Italian round. Emil Lindholm and Reeta Hämäläinen of Toksport WRT were forced to retire in Sardinia, while Finland’s Lauri Joona and Samu Vaaleri—representing MS Munaretto—saw a potential victory slip away. Both teams arrive in Greece with a clear mission: recovery and redemption.
The Škoda ranks also include Robert Virves and Jakko Viilo, a promising Estonian junior crew under the Toksport WRT banner, still seeking their breakthrough moment in the 2025 season.
A Rally Steeped in History and Hardship
Returning to the WRC calendar in 2021 after a seven-year hiatus, the Acropolis Rally Greece first appeared in the inaugural World Rally Championship season in 1973. Its infamous reputation stems from punishingly rough gravel stages, sweltering heat, and technical road sections that often see average speeds dip below 80 kph. For modern Rally2 cars like the Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, it’s an uncompromising test of durability and driver resilience.
This year’s edition covers 345.76 kilometres across 16 challenging gravel stages and a ceremonial super special on asphalt to open the event. The action begins with a show-stopping ceremonial start at the historic Olympia Stadium in Athens on Thursday (26 June) at 5:45 pm local time, before competitors head to Loutraki for the overnight halt.
The rally’s service park will then shift to the National Trade Fair in Lamia—where the survivors will cross the finish podium on Sunday (29 June) at 5:45 pm, bringing an end to one of the toughest contests of the season.
