WRC 2
Virves wins as Korhonen takes WRC2 lead in Greece
Robert Virves claimed his third career WRC2 victory at EKO Acropolis Rally Greece as Roope Korhonen moved to the top of the championship standings after late drama on the Greek gravel roads.
Virves and co-driver Jakko Viilo brought their Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 home ninth overall and first in WRC2, completing the event 1min 02.4sec clear of Andreas Mikkelsen after a dramatic final day around Loutraki.
Mikkelsen had led the category overnight and began Sunday with a 13.9sec advantage over his Toksport team-mate. The Norwegian looked well placed to defend that margin until the first pass of Loutraki, where he stopped to change a wheel after striking a rock on the outside of the road.
That handed the lead to Virves, who had already been applying pressure throughout Saturday. The Estonian then survived a late scare on Aghii Theodori 2, where his left-rear tyre lost pressure in the closing kilometres, before completing the rally to secure a hard-earned victory.
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“That is actually a shame because it would have been nice to end the fight in a fair way,” Virves said after Mikkelsen’s delay. “That is rallying sometimes, especially on roads like this. I’m sorry for him.”
Virves’ win came two years after Acropolis heartbreak, when he finished level on time with Sami Pajari for the 2024 WRC2 victory only to lose out on countback. This time, there was no such frustration, even if the victory only came after another typically unpredictable Acropolis finale.
Mikkelsen was left to rue what might have been after leading the class for much of the rally.
“There are many positives,” he said. “Good speed and I really enjoyed it with Jørn in the car and with the team. I’m sad with the second place, I think we really deserved this one. But the sun will go up tomorrow, so it will be okay.”
Alejandro Cachón completed the WRC2 podium in third, 2min 03.2sec behind Virves. The Spaniard produced a measured drive across the roughest rally of the season so far, recovering from earlier setbacks including bodywork damage and a broken windscreen to secure valuable championship points.
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Korhonen finished fourth in Greece, 2min 53.3sec from the win, but his result was enough to move him into the WRC2 championship lead. The Finn now heads the standings on 64 points, three clear of Cachón, with Léo Rossel third on 60.
The outcome reshapes a title fight that remains finely balanced after round eight of 14. Nikolay Gryazin, who did not contest Greece, drops to fourth on 56 points, while Yohan Rossel is now fifth on 52 after retiring from the event with engine failure on Saturday. Virves’ victory moves him to 50 points and sixth overall, with Mikkelsen climbing to 44.
Diego Domínguez finished fifth ahead of Léo Rossel and Pablo Sarrazin, while Jan Solans ended eighth after a difficult final day that included a double puncture and a 2min 30sec time penalty. Mattéo Chatillon and Yuki Yamamoto completed the top 10.
