News & Articles Historic Acropolis Regularity Rally 2024 – Leg 2: Theodossiou-Piperos at the top!
The second leg in the Regularity category of the Historic Acropolis Rally was marked by intense competition and battles for the lead. Saturday’s leg was the race’s most demanding, featuring 10 Precision Special Stages. Crews began their journey in the morning from Ancient Olympia, crossed the Rio-Antirrio Bridge, passed through Messolonghi, and arrived in Nafpaktos for regroupping. They then continued through Teichio and Milia, and after a night pass through Agia Efthymia, concluded the day in Itea, where they stayed overnight.
A new leader emerged, with Vassos Theodosiou and Konstantinos Piperos taking the top spot in their 1974 Lancia Beta Coupe with a total of 78.8 penalty points. The crew climbed four places in the second leg and will aim to maintain their lead on Sunday, the third day of the rally. Currently in second are Harald Hekerle and Brigitte Schneider (82.5 penalty points) in their 1973 BMW E10 2002 Touring, who were unable to withstand the leaders’ pressure. Third place went to the Bulgarian team of Georgi Andonov and Yordanka Andonova with a 1979 Volvo 244 GLE, accumulating 90.4 penalty points, and they are feeling the heat from Ioannis Katsaounis and Mathios Mansolas, who are close behind with 90.7 penalty points in their 1979 Volkswagen Golf I, vying for a podium finish.
In a 1968 Morris Mini, Giorgos Georgakopoulos and Tasos Douros are in fifth with 94.1 penalty points, followed by Turkish national champions Selim Bacioglu and Handan Bacioglu in a 1975 Mercedes Benz 230/4 with 105.9 penalty points. Iakovos Melanitis and Andreas Pitarakis gained two places on Saturday in their Ford Escort RS2000 MKV (108.7 points), while Christos Tsiogkas and Sotiris Kolliopoulos in a 1968 Ford Escort MKI are in ninth with 116.8 points. Rounding out the top ten are Dimitris Kalogeras and Christos Diamantopoulos in a 1982 Renault 5 Alpine Turbo with 121.2 penalty points. Following are Triantafyllos and Maria Margetis (BMW E28 518i, 1984) and Aristotelis Ninios and Stelios Voudouris (BMW E28 528i, 1984).
Former overall runners-up, Belgians Christian Crucifix and Jennifer Hugo, dropped several positions on Saturday with their 1985 Peugeot 205. Last year’s champions, Athanasios Tzoumanis and Vasileios Tsobanidis, are in 14th place with a 1972 Alfa Romeo Spider S2, and just behind them are Giorgos Kanellopoulos and Nikolaos Kritsikis with the rally’s newest car, a 2000 Toyota Celica TS.
The program for the third and final leg of the rally includes seven precision special stages. Crews will depart in the morning from Itea, pass through Penteoria Fokidas, Lefkaditi, Kaloskopi, Viniani, and Prosilio, and conclude the race back in Itea, where the finish and award ceremony will take place.
All information about the Historic Acropolis Rally is available on the official website (https://historicacropolis.gr/category/regularity/) and the Digital Notice Board (https://webapp.sportity.com/channel/ACRHIST24RE). Follow the latest race updates on the event’s social media channels.
The rally is sponsored by SEAJETS, Avis Car Rental, Nissan Halkias, Clevermedia.gr, SP tableware, and Superfast Ferries. The organizers also receive valuable support from the Region of Attica, the Regional Units of Boeotia and Phocis, as well as from the municipalities of Athens, Thebes, Livadeia, Delphi, Orchomenos, Aliartos, Nafpaktos, and Ancient Olympia. Cosmote TV, a major supporter of motorsport events in Greece, is the official media sponsor.
Live Results: https://times.anube.es/rallies/classic/index/6847?port=auto
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