The Historic Acropolis Rally made a spectacular return to the European Historic Rally Championship (EHRC) in 2023, with Martin McCormack and Barney Mitchell emerging victorious. The three-day event, featuring 14 challenging Special Stages, concluded on Sunday, November 5, in Elefsina, the European Capital of Culture for 2023. This year’s rally showcased a thrilling competition with variable weather conditions, pushing drivers and their vintage machines to the limit.
Main Participants and Results:
- Winners: Martin McCormack and Barney Mitchell – Ford Escort RS1800 MKII
- Valter Pierangioli and Sauro Farnocchia – Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 4×4 (Second Place)
- Ernie and Karen Graham – Ford Escort RS1800 MKII (Third Place)
- Oldrich Kovarik jnr and Marek Kapic – Skoda Favorit 136 L (Fourth Place)
- Marios Stafylopatis and Giorgos Chatzirigas – Ford Escort RS2000 MKII (Fifth Place)
- Eric Guignard and Didier Meffre – Renault 5 Turbo (Sixth Place)
- Giorgos Paradeisis and Ploutarchos Stergiou – Ford Escort MKII (Seventh Place)
- Konstantinos Argyriou and Stamatis Laskos – Toyota Starlet EP71 (Eighth Place)
- Konstantinos Papadimitriou and Manos Sigalas – Toyota Starlet EP71 Turbo (Ninth Place)
- Dimitris Amaxopoulos and Hara Moraiti – Toyota Corolla (Tenth Place)
Dominant Performance by McCormack-Mitchell
The British crew of Martin McCormack and Barney Mitchell, driving a Ford Escort RS1800 MKII, dominated the rally by winning 12 out of 14 stages. Their impressive pace and skill allowed them to secure a well-deserved victory, outpacing their competitors significantly. Valter Pierangioli and Sauro Farnocchia finished second in their Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 4×4. Despite a strong start, their hopes were dashed by a broken driveshaft in Saturday’s morning stage.
Ernie and Karen Graham claimed the third podium spot in another Ford Escort RS1800 MKII. Despite a minor mishap on Sunday, the British duo was thrilled with the rally and expressed eagerness to return next year. The crowd favorite, Oldrich Kovarik jnr and Marek Kapic, delivered a spectacular performance in their Skoda Favorit 136 L, securing fourth place.
Greek Crews Show Strong Performance
Marios Stafylopatis and Giorgos Chatzirigas were the highest-placed Greek crew, who finished fifth overall in their Ford Escort RS2000 MKII. Their trouble-free run allowed them to maintain a solid position, keeping their French rivals at bay. Eric Guignard and Didier Meffre, despite facing mechanical issues, managed to finish sixth in their Renault 5 Turbo, capping off the EHRC season.
Giorgos Paradeisis and Ploutarchos Stergiou finished seventh in the national event with their Ford Escort MKII, followed by Konstantinos Argyriou and Stamatis Laskos in eighth, driving a Toyota Starlet EP71. Konstantinos Papadimitriou and Manos Sigalas impressed with their ninth-place finish in another Toyota Starlet EP71 Turbo, particularly excelling in the “Livadia” stage on Sunday. Dimitris Amaxopoulos and Hara Moraiti rounded out the top ten in their Toyota Corolla.
Notable Finishes and Category Wins
Among other notable finishes, Dimitris Melas and Stathis Vardaxis completed their first Historic Acropolis Rally in a Porsche 911, while Germans Siegfried and Renate Mayr competed in a Volvo 240. British crew Tom Coughtrie and Alex Lee, driving a right-hand drive Ford Escort RS1800 MKII, also reached the finish line in Elefsina. Alexandros Roustemis and Grigoris Andrianopoulos overcame several challenges in their Ford Sierra RS Cosworth to complete the rally, while Grigoris Nioras and Kostas Kakalis made a commendable return to competition in an Opel Corsa A GSi after a seven-year hiatus.
In the European Championship categories, Ernie and Karen Graham topped Category 4, followed by Oldrich Kovarik jnr and Marek Kapic, with Greeks Alexandros Christodoulou and Athanassios Samaras finishing third despite early setbacks. Martin McCormack and Barney Mitchell won Category 3, with Eric Guignard and Didier Meffre in second, and Siegfried and Renate Mayr in third.
The sole Category 2 entry, Italians Paolo Pasutti and Giovanni Battista Campeis, completed the rally in their Porsche 911 Carrera. Oldrich Kovarik snr and Petr Dufek, driving a Skoda Octavia Super, were the only participants in Category 1, securing valuable points for the EHRC.