After three consecutive victories in Croatia, the Canary Islands, and then Japan, Lancia knew that the Acropolis Rally would be a whole different challenge. Greece’s rough roads, sweltering temperatures, and more than 320 kilometers of special stages represented the first real test for the Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale on gravel. This weekend was supposed to confirm the Italian brand’s dominance in WRC2. Instead, it turned into a setback.
Engine failure
Up until Special Stage 10, however, Yohan Rossel was among the favorites. The Frenchman, who had already won in Croatia and then in the Canary Islands, once again set a very competitive pace despite his position as the opening driver—a particularly disadvantageous role on the Greek stages.
But the race came to an abrupt halt midway through the rally. An engine failure brought the Lancia to a standstill on SS10, forcing the French crew to retire immediately. «We were forced to retire in Greece due to an engine problem that left us stranded in SS10, and this will weigh heavily on our championship hopes…,» said Yohan Rossel after the finish. The driver made no secret of his disappointment, aware of the competitive consequences of this mechanical failure. «I’m sorry to everyone who follows us, and thank you to the team for all the hard work they’ve put in.»
Didier Clément, director of Lancia Corse HF, also confirmed that the engine had halted the French driver’s progress: «Unfortunately, an engine problem stopped his momentum.»
Toyota is taking advantage of the opportunity
This breakdown comes at the worst possible time for Lancia. Before the race in Greece, Yohan Rossel was leading the championship after two consecutive wins. His retirement is costing him dearly.
The big winner this weekend is Toyota. Roope Korhonen now leads the WRC2 standings with 64 points, while Alejandro Cachón, also driving a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, has moved up to second place with 61 points.
On the Lancia side, Léo Rossel limited the damage. Despite a flat tire on the final day, he finished sixth and moved up to third place in the championship with 60 points. «A better result was possible, but a flat tire this morning dashed our hopes,» explained the Frenchman. Nevertheless, he highlights the work done on the Greek gravel: «We tried to gather as much information as possible in the Lancia on this surface: mission accomplished.»
A challenging but enlightening weekend
The Acropolis Rally has once again demonstrated why it remains one of the most feared events on the global calendar. The extreme conditions put the crews and the cars to the test. Conner Martell also crashed after rolling his car on SS14, fortunately without any physical injuries to the crew.
Despite everything, Lancia prefers to focus on the positive takeaways from this first major test on gravel. Léo Rossel finished sixth, Pablo Sarrazin seventh, and the team believes it has made significant progress in developing the Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale on this surface.
But in the championship, the reality is harsher. After dominating the start of the season, Lancia has seen Toyota regain the lead. A single engine failure was enough to completely reshuffle the deck in WRC2. The response won’t be long in coming. Starting next week, Lancia will return to tarmac at the Rally di Roma Capitale in the ERC, before continuing its world championship campaign in Finland. It’s an opportunity to regain the initiative after a weekend in Greece that could prove decisive in the title race.
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