Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville took the lead from Toyota’s reigning champion Sebastien Ogier after the first full day of Acropolis Rally Greece on Friday.
The Belgian completed the seventh stage on gravel 9.7 seconds clear of the nine-times world champion, who had won Thursday’s short opening asphalt super-special in Athens before the rally contenders moved by ferry overnight to Itea.
Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux was in third place, 42.4 seconds off the pace.
“It is always nice to lead but it doesn’t mean anything to us at the moment as the rally is very long,” said Neuville, the 2024 world champion who won in Greece that same year after a previous victory in 2022.
“Tomorrow will be very tough for the car and the tires.”
