History 1980s

1986 Acropolis Rally (Greece)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1986 Acropolis Rally (Greece)

Date: June 1986

Start Location: Athens, Greece

Finish Location: Athens, Greece

Total Distance: ~850 km of special stages

Surface: Gravel

The 1986 Acropolis Rally once again delivered carnage and attrition, as Greece’s rock-strewn mountain roads and scorching heat tested every component—and every crew. Juha Kankkunen kept calm amid chaos, piloting the Peugeot 205 T16 to another victory as his rivals faltered. His measured approach allowed him to avoid the mechanical and navigational pitfalls that consumed many competitors in one of the WRC’s most demanding events.

Route

Mount Parnassus: Dry and dusty roads with sharp rock edges and treacherous drop-offs.
Delphi Region: Heat, loose gravel, and narrow cliffside paths demanded both speed and restraint.
Kalambaka Loops: Long liaisons and rough sectors that battered suspension and fuel systems.

The stages wound through the punishing terrain of mainland Greece:

Extreme temperatures added another layer of difficulty, as engines, brakes, and even drivers approached their breaking points on each leg.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Juha Kankkunen & Juha Piironen · Peugeot 205 T16
2nd Place
Markku Alén & Ilkka Kivimäki · Lancia Delta S4
3rd Place
Malcolm Wilson & Nigel Harris · Ford RS200

Kankkunen’s win was not built on raw speed but on survival, consistency, and intelligence—key attributes that shaped his path to the 1986 World Championship.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Rock Hazards: Tire damage and undercarriage strikes ended many contenders’ rallies prematurely.
  • Heat Management: Cockpit temperatures reached extreme levels—driver and machine fatigue were ever-present.
  • Route Complexity: Long stages without full recce and limited service forced cautious pace strategies.

The 1986 Acropolis Rally reinforced a timeless WRC lesson—survival beats speed when the terrain turns against you. And Kankkunen, calm as ever, let the others fall before raising the winner’s trophy.

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