History 1980s

1988 Acropolis Rally (Greece)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1988 Acropolis Rally (Greece)

Date: May 30 – June 2, 1988

Start Location: Athens, Greece

Finish Location: Athens, Greece

Total Distance: 596 km of special stages

Surface: Gravel

The 1988 Acropolis Rally lived up to its reputation as a vehicle-breaking marathon. With soaring temperatures, loose rocks, and brutal washboard terrain, many top contenders struggled to finish. Miki Biasion drove with calculated aggression in his Lancia Delta HF 4WD, keeping clear of major problems while maintaining strong pace. His win marked a significant step toward the title and solidified Lancia’s growing dominance over rough rallies.

Route

Mount Parnassus: Rocky climbs and loose descents demanded a delicate throttle and aggressive tire strategy.
Kalambaka: Fast forest roads littered with sharp stones and deep ruts, testing ground clearance and underbody strength.
Lamia: Dusty plains and longer endurance stages forced teams to monitor cooling and tire wear carefully.

The Greek stages punished suspension components and driver patience across mountainous and arid zones:

The rally featured long road sections with minimal service time—making reliability, not just speed, the key to survival.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Miki Biasion & Tiziano Siviero · Lancia Delta HF 4WD
2nd Place
Juha Kankkunen & Juha Piironen · Mazda 323 4WD
3rd Place
Bruno Saby & Jean-François Fauchille · Lancia Delta HF 4WD

Biasion’s calm execution and the Delta’s bulletproof setup gave Lancia another valuable 1–3 finish—critical in both the drivers’ and manufacturers’ standings.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Rocks and Ruts: Hidden hazards could destroy suspension and tires—pacing and line choice were critical.
  • Dust Management: Choking visibility and air filter wear became a factor during hotter loops.
  • Endurance Focus: Crews that avoided pushing too hard early were rewarded—attrition claimed many leaders mid-rally.

The 1988 Acropolis Rally was all about intelligence and mechanical sympathy—Biasion and Siviero’s smooth, relentless run made victory seem effortless in one of the WRC’s toughest tests.

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