History 2000s

2005 Acropolis Rally (Greece)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 2005 Acropolis Rally (Greece)

Date: June 24–26, 2005

Start Location: Athens, Greece

Finish Location: Lamia, Greece

Total Distance: ~1,200 km (estimated full route)

Competitive Stages: 355.69 km

Surface: Gravel (rocky, mountainous)

The 2005 Acropolis Rally returned to form with scorching temperatures and some of the most destructive roads in the sport. Sébastien Loeb once again managed the balance of outright speed and car conservation, taking his sixth win of the season and extending his title lead with surgical precision through the Greek dust and rock.

Route

Elatia: Long, fast, and brutal — the ultimate test of suspension strength and tire preservation.
Agii Theodori: Technical and winding with narrow canyons and constant elevation changes.
Bauxites: Steep and dusty with limited visibility and major rock hazards — ideal for breaking concentration and cars alike.

The Acropolis featured blistering heat, endless stones, and sharp-edged mountain roads. Key stages included:

Dust hung thick in the valleys and second loops shredded tires and dampers alike — making caution and timing everything across all three days.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Sébastien Loeb & Daniel Elena · Citroën Xsara WRC
2nd Place
Petter Solberg & Phil Mills · Subaru Impreza WRC
3rd Place
Marcus Grönholm & Timo Rautiainen · Peugeot 307 WRC

Loeb avoided unnecessary risks while keeping his pace consistently fast. Solberg gave chase but suffered suspension issues on rougher loops. Grönholm finished third, unable to match Loeb’s precision over Greece’s most aggressive terrain.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Mechanical Attrition: The Acropolis is infamous for forcing retirements — only cars with durable suspensions could survive to Sunday.
  • Dust and Visibility: Road position was vital — thick dust and bright sun glare made pacenote accuracy critical.
  • Heat Fatigue: Cockpits reached over 50°C — driver hydration and focus were major factors in late-stage performance.

Loeb’s mastery of endurance rallies was on full display — combining smart pacing, tire strategy, and unshakable focus to win one of the toughest events of the season with commanding confidence.

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