Tue 03 Sep 2024

The father-son duo with 32 Acropolis Rally starts between them

The family pairing of Manos and Kostas Stefanis will have experience on their side when they bid for victory in WRC3 at this week’s EKO Acropolis Rally Greece (5 – 8 September).

Manos (42), who has competed in the event three times, will be joined by his father, Kostas (75), who boasts an impressive 29 starts in the legendary gravel fixture and clinched victory in 1995.

Together, the Stefanis duo will pilot their Ford Fiesta Rally3 against 17 other crews in the WRC3 category for their home round of the season.

“Every participation in the Acropolis Rally gives me great pleasure, but this year's occasion also gives me a thrill,” Stefanis senior remarked. “This year, I will be on the start line for the 30th time, while completing 49 years and 3 months of active WRC racing, which only Finland's Timo Hantunen exceeds for a few months, at world level. I believe that the motto ‘49 years rocks & dust’ reflects my career in the Acropolis Rally, from the 70s to the present day.”

Other local entrants include Epaminondas Karanikolas, Giorgos Delaportas, and Stephanos Theocharopoulos, who will also be driving Ford Fiesta cars. Paschalis Chatzimarkos and Efthimios Halkias will compete in Renault Clio Rally3s.

Romet Jürgenson is one of several FIA Junior WRC stars also eligible for WRC3 points. The Estonian’s primary focus this week will be to clinch the one-make M-Sport Poland Fiesta series’ crown alongside co-driver Siim Oja.

Europe
Starts: Thursday, October 17, 2024 at 7:00:00 AM
Poland
Starts: Friday, October 11, 2024 at 9:30:00 AM
China
Starts: Saturday, October 19, 2024 at 3:00:00 AM