Neuville Leads Ogier by 9.7s into Brutal Saturday at WRC Acropolis Rally Greece 2026 | Stage 12 Ghymno 2 Preview
Neuville Carries Slim Lead into Saturday’s Minefield at Acropolis Rally Greece
Thierry Neuville heads into the second leg of the WRC EKO Acropolis Rally Greece 2026 with a 9.7-second cushion over Sébastien Ogier. After seven punishing stages on Friday, the Hyundai driver sits on top, but the real test starts now. Saturday’s repeated stages, including Stage 12 Ghymno 2, will chew up tires and test every crew’s patience on the rocky tracks north of Loutraki.
The 19.60 km Ghymno 2 stage is scheduled to start at 16:39 local time (EEST). By the time crews reach it for the second pass, the surface will be significantly more broken than the morning run. That is where small mistakes turn into big gaps.
Current Overall Standings After Friday (SS7)
| Pos | Driver / Co-Driver | Car | Total Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thierry Neuville / Martijn Wydaeghe | Hyundai i20 N Rally1 | 1:26:48.2 | — |
| 2 | Sébastien Ogier / Vincent Landais | Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 | 1:26:57.9 | +9.7s |
| 3 | Adrien Fourmaux / Alexandre Coria | Hyundai i20 N Rally1 | 1:27:30.6 | +42.4s |
| 4 | Joshua McErlean / Eoin Treacy | M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1 | 1:27:58.3 | +1:10.1 |
| 5 | Mārtinš Sesks / Renārs Francis | M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1 | 1:28:05.1 | +1:16.9 |
| 6 | Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston | Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 | 1:28:21.4 | +1:33.2 |
| 7 | Elfyn Evans / Scott Martin | Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 | 1:28:56.6 | +2:08.4 |
| 8 | Daniel Sordo / Cándido Carrera | Hyundai i20 N Rally1 | 1:29:37.7 | +2:49.5 |
Ghymno 2 is a repeat. The first pass (SS8) already left deep ruts and loose rocks scattered across the track. On the second run the surface will have deteriorated further. Crews who managed their tires well in the morning will have a clear advantage. Those who pushed too hard early could pay a heavy price here.
The stage mixes fast sections with tight, technical corners and several places where the road drops away sharply. One wrong line and a wheel can easily catch a rock the size of a football. That is classic Acropolis.
Live Streaming & Telecast
- Primary live coverage: Rally.TV (all stages live with onboard cameras and timing)
- WRC YouTube: Highlights and selected live segments
- DAZN: Available in select markets
- Greek local broadcast: ERT and regional sports channels
All times are available on the official WRC timing app and wrc.com live centre.
Time Zone Conversions (June 27, 2026)
- Greece local (EEST / UTC+3): SS12 start 16:39
- India (IST / UTC+5:30): 19:09
- UK (BST / UTC+1): 14:39
- US East Coast (EDT / UTC-4): 09:39
- US West Coast (PDT / UTC-7): 06:39
If you are watching from Bhopal or anywhere in India, Stage 12 gets underway right around 7:09 pm IST — perfect timing for evening viewers.
Weather & Stage Conditions
Expect hot and dry conditions with temperatures in the low 30s Celsius (around 86–90°F) during the afternoon stages. The gravel is loose and dusty. Wind is light, so dust will hang in the air after each car passes, reducing visibility for those running behind. No rain is forecast, which means the rocks stay sharp and the ruts keep growing.
Key Driver Battles to Watch
Neuville vs Ogier The 9.7-second gap is tiny on paper but feels massive on these stages. Neuville has won the Acropolis twice before (2022 and 2024) and knows exactly where the trouble spots are. Ogier, however, is a master at managing resources and rarely makes unforced errors on the second pass.
Fourmaux’s Recovery The Frenchman sits third but lost time to a puncture on Friday. He needs a clean Saturday to stay in podium contention and keep pressure on the top two.
Toyota’s Road Position Advantage Katsuta and Evans start further back. They will have cleaner lines on the repeats but must make up time without taking unnecessary risks.
Fantasy Team Tips & Grand League vs Small League
In Rally.TV’s official predictor or fantasy games:
- Grand League / High-risk plays: Back Neuville for stage wins on the repeats or Ogier if you expect him to attack.
- Small League / Safe plays: Fourmaux or McErlean often deliver consistent points on tough days.
- Differential pick: Watch for any M-Sport driver who stays out of trouble — they can gain big places when favorites hit problems.
Press Conference & Captain Quotes (Pre-Saturday)
Neuville after shakedown and Friday stages: “We felt comfortable in the car from the very first kilometers. The pace was there straight away.”
Ogier has repeatedly stressed survival on the Acropolis: “You cannot win the rally on Saturday morning, but you can lose it.”
Records & Milestones in Play
- Neuville is chasing a third Acropolis victory.
- Ogier has one previous win here (2011) and would love to add another in what could be one of his final full seasons.
- Hyundai has won three of the last four editions of this event.
Match Prediction – Stage 12 Ghymno 2 & Saturday Outlook
Expect the top three to stay within a handful of seconds of each other on Stage 12. The real gaps will open on the second pass of Menalo Mt later in the evening.
My lean: Neuville extends his lead by another 5–12 seconds across the day if he manages tires cleanly. Ogier will stay close enough to keep Sunday’s Power Stage very interesting. A puncture or rock strike for any of the top three would completely flip the rally.
The Acropolis does not hand out gifts. One clean run through Ghymno 2 could be the difference between lifting the trophy on Sunday afternoon in Loutraki or watching someone else do it.
