High-stakes Greek battle awaits at FIA Junior WRC finale

The FIA Junior WRC is set for a dramatic showdown at EKO Acropolis Rally Greece this week (5 – 8 September), where more than ten drivers remain in contention for the prestigious crown.

Taking place in the central city of Lamia, approximately 200km north of Athens, the Acropolis Rally is one of the toughest challenges on the FIA World Rally Championship calendar. Known for its rough, twisting mountain roads, the rally pushes both car and crew to their limits and hosts the FIA Junior WRC finale for the third year in a row. 

The event is further intensified by the availability of double classification points and the additional Wolf Stage Win bonus points, leaving a total of 65 points still up for grabs. Of the 13 M-Sport Poland Ford Fiesta Rally3 Evo crews entered, an impressive 11 are still in mathematical contention for championship glory.

The champion will secure the biggest prize in rallying: an arrive-and-drive package for four European rounds of the 2025 WRC2 series – WRC’s leading support category – in an M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally2 car, complete with testing and tyre support.

Heading into Greece as the championship leader, Estonia’s Romet Jürgenson is one of the favourites for the title. However, his lead was cut significantly after a crash in Finland, allowing Australian and fellow FIA Rally Star driver Taylor Gill to close the gap to just eight points.

Diego Dominguez, currently third in the standings, trails by an additional 20 points. The Paraguayan, unlike the leading duo, has prior experience at the Acropolis Rally, having competed twice before and even securing the victory last year en route to finishing as the 2023 championship runner-up.

Meanwhile, Ali Türkkan (Türkiye) and Petr Borodin (Kazakhstan), who each won five stages in Finland, sit fourth and sixth respectively. Other contenders hoping to seize the title include Norbert Maior (Romania), Tom Rensonnet (Belgium) and Max Smart (South Africa). 

The rally kicks off on Thursday evening and boasts 15 challenging stages covering over 300km of competitive action before Sunday afternoon’s finish. Iconic WRC stages such as Tarzan and Aghii Theodori are included in the itinerary.

Maciej Woda, FIA Junior WRC Championship Manager: “This promises to be one of the most thrilling Junior WRC finales in history, with so many drivers still in the hunt for the title. The unforgiving Greek stages demand patience and mechanical sympathy; as past years have shown, it’s not always the fastest driver who prevails. I want to wish the best of luck to all the competitors – may the best crew win!”