History 1990s

1994 Acropolis Rally (Greece)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1994 Acropolis Rally (Greece)

Date: June 5–8, 1994

Start Location: Athens, Greece

Finish Location: Delphi, Greece

Total Distance: 374.00 km of special stages

Surface: Gravel

The Acropolis Rally once again proved why it was one of the toughest rallies in the WRC. Rugged terrain, choking dust, and intense summer heat made mechanical reliability and strategic pacing essential. Carlos Sainz, piloting the newly developed Subaru Impreza 555, delivered a commanding and composed drive through the rocky Greek mountains. With co-driver Luis Moya, Sainz brought Subaru its first gravel win with the Impreza, marking a major milestone for the team and laying the groundwork for future dominance.

Route

Elatia and Bauxites: Mountainous gravel with tight switchbacks and minimal shade—brakes and cooling systems were pushed to the limit.
Livadia and Itea: Fast and wide gravel with frequent rock strikes—tire strategy and ground clearance were critical.
Ancient Delphi: Technical and scenic, winding through ruins and rocky passes near the historic finish.

The stages ran through the harsh central Greek landscape, filled with rocks, dust, and punishing ruts:

Temperatures soared over 35°C, turning the stages into car-breaking gauntlets where even top teams struggled to avoid punctures and suspension failures.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Carlos Sainz & Luis Moya · Subaru Impreza 555
2nd Place
Juha Kankkunen & Nicky Grist · Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD
3rd Place
Didier Auriol & Bernard Occelli · Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD

Sainz’s victory proved the Impreza wasn’t just fast—it was durable. His smart driving and strategic restraint gave Subaru a vital gravel breakthrough.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Rock Strikes: Punctures were common, and protecting the car’s underbody was essential for stage survival.
  • Dust Clouds: Poor visibility behind other cars made early stage position critical.
  • Extreme Heat: Engine cooling and cockpit temperatures pushed crew endurance to the edge.

The 1994 Acropolis Rally was a true trial by gravel—Sainz’s blend of maturity and aggression delivered Subaru its most important win to date and rewrote expectations for the new Impreza 555.

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