WRC 2026 result after Round 8: Acropolis Rally

Toyota Gazoo Racing continued its 2026 FIA World Rally Championship campaign with a final-day triumph for Sébastien Ogier in what had been a gruelling Greek epic. How did this WRC 2026 result on the Acropolis Rally play out? Read on as we review each day’s activities.

WRC 2026: Acropolis Rally Greece

This event marked the beginning of the second half of the WRC 2026 season. And Toyota couldn’t have been in a better position – 127 points ahead at the top of the manufacturers’ championship, and all five drivers and co-drivers in the top five of their respective standings.

But the Acropolis Rally is not an event where a team can rest on its laurels. Positioned as the first of seven successive gravel challenges that will decide the overall championship, the rally is famed for its rough and rocky mountain stages and for high temperatures. All of which combine to provide a tough test for cars, tyres and crews.

Day 1

Compared to the rough, rocky mountain tests to follow, the first competitive stage took place on smooth asphalt with a side-by-side super special stage in the historic Greek capital Athens.

Sébastien Ogier had earlier set the second-fastest time in the pre-event shakedown. And now in this public arena, the Frenchman put on a show for the fans. He was quickest and claimed the early rally lead by one second over team-mate Takamoto Katsuta. Meanwhile, Sami Pajari and Oliver Solberg set the same lap time to the tenth of a second to sit joint fourth overall. Championship leader Elfyn Evans rounded out the top six.

Day 2

Following the opening super special, cars and crews were ferried across the Gulf of Corinth for the longest day of the rally. This consisted of six gravel stages through central Greece, with only a remote service allowed in the middle of the day.

All five GR Yaris Rally1 drivers were in the top five positions on the road. As a result, the team faced the challenge of sweeping a clean, easy-to-follow line through the loose, rocky stages, all for the benefit of their rivals. Among the Toyota drivers, Ogier’s (above) championship position meant he had the best position in fifth on the road. And he made the most of it with a strong performance, a stage win in stage four, and ended the day just under ten seconds from the leader.

It was a more challenging day for the team’s other drivers. Katsuta (above) and Evans sat sixth and seventh overall after facing the tough job of being the first two on the road. Solberg ran just behind and conceded over a minute in the first stage after a loss of tyre pressure. However, worse came in the final stage when he ran wide and got stuck on a bank. Thankfully, the car was undamaged. But as he could not return to the road, the Swede was forced to retire and restart on day three. Finally, Pajari ran as high as fourth but fell to tenth overall after stopping to change a wheel.

WRC 2026 result: Day 3

The day’s action took place on a mix of roads that were either brand-new or not used by the WRC since 2013. The initial loop of four stages was the longest driven on a single set of tyres, with two stages repeated in rougher second-pass conditions after the mid-afternoon service.

Ogier (above) began second overall, 9.7 seconds behind the leader. He won the first and fourth stages of the loop and reduced the gap to 3.7 seconds before the service. A battle ensued in the afternoon as each driver pushed and fought for the advantage, the result of which left Ogier within 4.1 seconds of the lead.

Meanwhile, Katsuta (above) enjoyed a strong day and joined Ogier in an overnight podium position, having climbed from sixth to third through consistent pace and keeping out of trouble. Evans had a similarly strong day and recovered from seventh to fifth, only to drop back down to seventh following an unfortunate puncture in the last stage.

WRC 2026 result: Day 4

Ogier seized the rally lead with the fastest time in the final day’s opening stage. But his immediate rival fought back and matched his exact pace in the following test. There was nothing between the two drivers until the penultimate stage, which proved decisive for both. A strong win from Ogier combined with tyre damage for his competitor created an unassailable gap of almost 55 seconds ahead of the rally-endine Power Stage. There, Ogier and co-driver Vincent Landai were fastest once more and secured the overall victory by 58.3 seconds. In topping the Power Stage and Super Sunday classifications, Ogier secured a maximum 35 points and moved up into third in the drivers’ championship.

Also on the podium in Greece were Katsuta and Johnston, who finished third after a strong and consistent performance. Pajari and Salminen were fifth and also took second in the Power Stage and Super Sunday. Meanwhile, any hope of championship leaders Evans and Martin (above) making a recovery on Sunday were hampered by a slow puncture in the morning opener. But in achieving seventh overall and fifth in the Power Stage the pair retained their overall positions. As a team, Toyota increased its lead of the manufacturers’ standings to 140 points.

WRC 2026 result in Round 8: Acropolis Rally Greece

WRC 2026 championship: drivers and co-drivers

WRC 2026 championship: manufacturers

WRC 2026: Where next?

Round nine sees the WRC head due north to take on Rally Estonia, which takes place on 17-19 July. The rally features fast gravel stages combining wide and narrow sections with a generally soft and sandy surface that can become rutted for the second pass.

Learn more: How did last year’s WRC end for Toyota?