News & Articles Historic Acropolis Rally 2024: The Start!

In an iconic location, under the shadow of the Sacred Rock of the Acropolis, the Historic Acropolis Rally began on Friday, November 8. The 57 teams that took to the starting ramp will now battle against time over 11 special stages in the ninth and final round of the European Historic Rally Championship. The event was honored by the presence of Deputy Minister of Sports, Giannis Vroutsis, who officially flagged off the teams. Among the attendees at the grand opening were Attica Region Road Safety Consultant Konstantinos Markouizos, Athens Deputy Mayor of Infrastructure Andreas Grammatikogiannis, Police Brigadier General Pinelopi Falkou representing the Hellenic Police, Nikos Vasileiou, PR Manager of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EBEA), and Motorsport Greece’s Executive Director, Aristotelis Vavougios. Also giving the official start were the president of OMAE, Dimitris Michelakakis, AMOTOE president Maria Chesmeli, Historic Acropolis Rally Organizing Committee Chair Fotini Psarrakou, as well as representatives from the rally’s sponsors.

Everything is ready for the 57 teams to begin their adventure through the Greek countryside on Saturday morning, with special stages reminiscent of the historic Acropolis Rallies of the past. The competitors were in good spirits and enthusiastic about the road conditions of the special stages, which form part of the Greek Historic Car Championship. This year, car service is once again permitted at designated points along the connecting routes between Special Stages, recalling the structure of Greece’s national rally in the 1970s and ’80s.

On the morning of Saturday, November 9, the Sporting category participants will start at 08:30 from OAKA and will compete in the 17.71 km “Moschopodi” stage. They will then head to “Thebes,” spanning 14.91 km, with the day’s schedule also including the “Akraifnio” stage, 10.36 km long, before a regrouping stop in Aliartos. The stages will continue with “Elikonas” (8.06 km) and “Mavroneri” (13.37 km), leading to a 30-minute service stop in Itea. The first leg will end with the famous “Karoutes” stage, measuring 17.63 km, held under the glow of headlights!

On the morning of Sunday, November 10, participants will race the “Karoutes” stage again, this time in daylight, and then head to the 15.27 km “Parnassos” and 12.22 km “Prosilio” stages. A mid-day service stop will take place in the coastal town of Itea, the rally’s center, with the Historic Acropolis Rally wrapping up after a repeat of the “Parnassos” and “Prosilio” stages. The rally’s finish will take place in Itea at 16:45.

Spectators should note that roads will close two hours before the first racing car passes.

The event’s main sponsor is SEAJETS, which operates the world’s largest high-speed fleet, serving 50 ports and over 400 connections from Piraeus, Rafina, Lavrio, Crete, Thessaloniki, and Volos to the Cyclades and Aegean destinations. Supporting the event as well is Nissan Chalkias, a member of the official NISSAN network for over 45 years, which also maintains a fully organized pre-owned vehicle department with cars of all types and manufacturers.

Avis Car Rental supports the Historic Acropolis Rally! With a global presence and operations in Greece since 1960, Avis has a nationwide network of 60 stations, including all major airports. Avis also offers a modern fleet of approximately 60,000 cars across various categories, including automatic cars, city cars, SUVs, commercial or passenger vans, and luxury vehicles.

Clevermedia.gr is supporting this year’s Historic Acropolis Rally! Founded in 1996 by a group of young professionals, Clevermedia has gradually expanded into five sectors: electronic communications (site creation, CD-ROM production, 3D, electronic presentations, video), print communications (advertising material, advertisements, magazines), product promotion (marketing services, stand creation, infokiosks, sponsorships), while more recently venturing into new technology (programming, applications, wireless networks, technical support, online TV and radio stations), as well as archiving and digitization for the public and private sectors.

Founded in 1959, SP Tableware specializes in household and professional products. Known for its handmade engraved glassware, SP Tableware distinguishes itself by using the traditional hand-engraving method with diamond wheels, creating a variety of designs in both modern and classic styles. The company’s products are available in select stores throughout Greece and abroad.

Superfast Ferries is also supporting the Historic Acropolis Rally again this year, offering discounted tickets to competitors traveling to Greece for the final round of the European Historic Rally Championship.

Valuable support for the organizers is provided by the Region of Attica, the Regional Units of Boeotia and Phocis. Also supporting the Historic Acropolis Rally are the Municipalities of Athens, Thiva, Levadeia, Delphi, Orchomenos, Aliartos, Nafpaktos, and Ancient Olympia.

The media sponsor is Cosmote TV, which has consistently supported all motorsport events in Greece in recent years.

On the rally’s official website (www.historicacropolis.gr) and on the Electronic Notice Board (https://webapp.sportity.com/channel/ACRHIST24SP), you can find the schedule, participants, and maps for the Historic Acropolis Rally. Follow the event’s social media channels for the latest news.

The Organizing Committee of the Historic Acropolis Rally wishes all competitors a great rally!

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