ATHENS, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Estonian driver Ott Tanak, representing Hyundai's World Rally Championship team, claimed victory at the EKO Acropolis Rally on Sunday, following a grueling four-day competition across four regions of Greece, organizers announced.
Tanak completed the demanding 345.76-kilometer course in four hours, 12 minutes and 20.1 seconds, securing his first-ever win in the notoriously challenging rally. He was followed by Toyota's Sebastien Ogier in second place and Hyundai teammate Adrien Fourmaux in third.
"It was incredibly demanding - with the roughness, the temperatures, and the length of the rally. It was a super challenge," Tanak said, according to the organizers.
"We are very glad to put the package together, to keep the tires alive, and to have a good performance at the same time. Our main goal was to manage the tires. Obviously, we did everything perfectly. We pushed in the low-risk areas, and in the places with rough conditions, we held back," he added.
Dubbed the "Rally of Gods", the Acropolis Rally is widely recognized as one of the toughest events on the World Rally Championship calendar, known for its rocky gravel roads and punishing terrain. Of the 69 starting crews, only 49 reached the finish. ■