Romet Jürgenson heads the FIA Junior WRC title chase after 4 roundsTaylor Gill begins the Acropolis Rally eight factors behind in second placeMax Sensible goals to construct on his Sardinia podium on the tough gravel stagesJose ‘Abito’ Caparó targets remaining error-free on Junior WRC season finale
The 68th working of the Acropolis Rally brings the curtain down on the 2024 FIA Junior WRC Championship with two of the 4 FIA Rally Star drivers firmly in competition for the coveted title and a WRC2 prize drive in 2025.
Regardless of 2024 marking their first season of world championship competitors, Romet Jürgenson and Taylor Gill have excelled of their Pirelli-equipped Ford Fiesta Rally3s with their co-drivers Siim Oja and Daniel Brkic and begin the Junior WRC finale in Greece first and second within the provisional standings.
Whereas the double-points format makes the title race large open, the enormity of Jürgenson and Gill’s achievements can’t be underestimated with each drivers becoming a member of the FIA Rally Star course of although grassroot evaluation occasions organised by their respective ASNs, Estonian Autosport Union and Motorsport Australia.
Having progressed to Junior WRC for 2024 after efficiently finishing the FIA Rally Star Coaching Season in 2023, Jürgenson and Gill begin EKO Acropolis Rally on Thursday able to put into observe all of the data, recommendation and steering handed to them by consultants from rallying, sports activities health and psychology and past. Even when these two relative rookie drivers finally fall brief of their respective Junior WRC title quests, they’re set for vibrant futures within the sport and second Junior WRC campaigns in 2025 as a part of the FIA Rally Star initiative.
FIA Deputy President for Sport Robert Reid, FIA Vice President for Sport Europe Anna Nordkvist, WRC Fee Chair Pernilla Solberg and FIA Street Sport Director Andrew Wheatley will all be in attendance throughout EKO Acropolis Rally to look at the FIA Rally Star drivers contest the Junior WRC season finale having supported the challenge from its early days.
EKO Acropolis Rally 2024 – What’s in retailer for the FIA Rally Star drivers
In a change to the normal format of a begin and opening superspecial stage in Athens, this yr’s Acropolis Rally begins in Lamia, the placement of the service park and ceremonial end, with the itinerary taking crews south from Lamia in the direction of the Greek capital throughout leg two as an alternative. One key good thing about the transfer is followers assembled on the end-of-Saturday superspecial will get to look at the conclusion of leg two. The superspecial location, which makes use of considered one of Greece’s main motorways and provides free admission, was chosen to offer easy accessibility for as many followers as attainable, together with these dwelling in Athens in addition to the Central Greece and Peloponnese areas.
Following shakedown and the Ceremonial Begin on Thursday, Friday’s first leg consists of three levels run both facet of service in Lamia. Protecting 135.02 timed kilometres, it’s the longest leg of the occasion.
Saturday’s second leg will get underneath method with the 28.67 kilometres of Rengini, the longest of the rally, which marks the beginning of the journey south to Loutraki, the placement of the Tyre Becoming Zone following modified variations of Thiva and Aghii Theodori. The three morning levels are rerun within the afternoon previous to the EKO SSS from 21:05 native time.
The beforehand unused Inohori check launches Sunday’s deciding leg with two visits to the Eleftherohori stage both facet of service in Lamia additionally included on the route.
FIA Rally Star newest information and views
The 4 FIA Rally Star drivers accomplished a one-day check in Greece on Sunday in preparation for his or her first Acropolis Rally begins.Romet Jürgenson, who was second in Sweden and first in Croatia, tops the provisional FIA Junior WRC standings with 69 factors.After banking his breakthrough Junior WRC victory in Finland final month, Taylor Gill is second within the desk, eight factors behind team-mate Jürgenson.Following Rally Finland, Jürgenson contested Humus Paide Ralli in his native Estonia, ending third in school behind the wheel of a Ford Fiesta Rally3.Max Sensible, who visited the Acropolis Rally on a fact-finding mission in 2022, accomplished the rostrum on Rally Italia Sardegna, the opposite tough gravel occasion on the Junior WRC roster.Jose ‘Abito’ Caparó has stored busy at residence coaching and making ready for his Acropolis Rally debut.
FIA Rally Star pre-Acropolis Rally quotes
FIA Rally Star Challenge Chief Jérôme Roussel stated: “It’s unimaginable to suppose we’re on the remaining occasion of the FIA Junior WRC Championship season with two of our drivers, Romet and Taylor, first and second within the provisional standings, having come by from grassroots motor sport. In fact, that received’t depend for a lot if we don’t maximise our potentialities this weekend. However no matter occurs we will likely be very happy with all that has been achieved this season. That’s not simply right down to the expertise and dedication of those two younger drivers, but additionally to the exhausting work and meticulous preparation carried out by the complete FIA Rally Star crew, plus the assist of all our companions and the ASNs who’ve made this journey attainable.
“The Acropolis Rally is, in fact, a troublesome problem and discovering the stability between automobile preservation and efficiency received’t be straightforward. However we all know what Romet and Taylor are able to, and we’ll be giving them our full assist this weekend. For Max and Abito, the Acropolis Rally is one other nice alternative to construct their expertise and we sit up for seeing their development and the way they take the brand new classes on board all through the occasion. As they are saying in rallying, something can occur, however our drivers have ready effectively, and we all know they’ll do all they’ll to attain one of the best outcomes they’ll.”
Romet Jürgenson stated: “It’s clear the purpose is to win the title in Junior WRC nevertheless it’s going to be one of many hardest challenges this yr, if not the hardest problem. The championship desk is admittedly open due to the double factors for the final rally so the tip result’s actually essential and you need to suppose much more about the long term. We even have to consider the distinctive terrain and challenges the Acropolis Rally has that we haven’t skilled earlier than. It’s a must to suppose the place you’ll be able to push due to the stage-win factors, however then you need to be good somewhere else so it’s a troublesome compromise. However we’re going to offer 100 per cent from our facet, much more, to win the title and make the entire FIA Rally Star programme proud.”
Taylor Gill stated: “The Acropolis Rally goes to be super-tough, super-rough and super-difficult so it is going to extra about survival than outright pace on the levels. Being in championship combat means we undoubtedly need to maintain one eye on that however, finally, our aim is simply to attempt to get by and have a clear occasion. If we will do one of the best job we will, be good and constant to be there on the end, like we’ve executed all yr, then the whole lot will type itself out. We’ll go in with our never-give-up perspective and attempt to maintain our noses clear.”
Max Sensible: “It’s a correct tough gravel rally, just like Sardinia in some methods, which was a rally I actually loved. I actually really feel the tough gravel occasions go well with my present skillset. We’ve discovered a lot within the rallies this yr and final yr and this rally is the place the place we will put the whole lot collectively. It’s been an incredible yr up to now and I’ve executed quite a bit higher than I assumed I’d in the beginning of the season. I’m nonetheless new to this sport however I’ve discovered a lot.
“Greece is a very particular place for me. It’s the primary WRC occasion I bought to go and watch in 2022 and I keep in mind all these new and thrilling emotions I had. I couldn’t consider how massive it was, the sounds of the automobiles, all these senses I’d by no means skilled earlier than. I used to be spectating with my father on the Tarzan stage, which we’ll use this yr, and I keep in mind having goosebumps after seeing my first Rally1 automobile undergo. Going again to Greece we need to get pleasure from it, push and see what we will do.”
Jose ‘Abito’ Caparó stated: “My purpose is to attempt to replay all the great issues in my thoughts that I’ve discovered and attempt to keep away from to the utmost any errors, particularly throughout the first two days once I count on the rally to be actually robust. I’m actually aiming to do a clear occasion and take the utmost quantity of expertise I can for the long run.”
EKO Acropolis Rally in numbers
Stage distance: 305.30 kmTotal distance: 1392.24 kmNumber of levels: 15
FIA Junior WRC Championship occasion schedule refresher
The 2024 FIA Junior WRC Championship consists of 5 rounds as follows:
Rally Sweden (Snow/ice), February 15-18Croatia Rally (Tarmac), April 18-21Rally Italia Sardegna (Gravel), Might 30-June 2Secto Rally Finland (Gravel), August 1-4EKO Acropolis Rally Greece (Gravel), September 5-8
FIA Rally Star drivers (in Acropolis Rally begin quantity order)
#58 Romet Jürgenson (24, Estonia) / Co-driver: Siim Oja (EST)#59 Taylor Gill (20, Australia) / Co-driver: Daniel Brkic (AUS)#66 Max Sensible (21, South Africa) / Co-driver: Cameron Honest (GBR)#68 Jose ‘Abito’ Caparó (27, Peru) / Co-driver: Esther Gutiérrez (ESP)
Be The Subsequent One collection to look at on YouTube
The Be The Subsequent One YouTube collection, which follows the FIA Rally Star drivers by the 2023 FIA Rally Star Coaching Season and gives an interesting perception into their achievements, is on the market with the complete playlist right here.
