This weekend, rally fans are in for a thrilling finale as the FIA European Historic Rally Championship (EHRC) heads to Greece for the iconic Historic Acropolis Rally (November 8-10). This is no ordinary showdown—this rally will crown the first-ever overall FIA EHRC champion in a winner-takes-all battle among three fierce competitors: “Zippo”/Nicola Arena, Tibor Érdi Jr/István Kérek, and Ernie Graham/Anna Graham.
The fight for the FIA EHRC crown
After eight rounds of intense racing, the Italian Audi Quattro driver “Zippo” holds the advantage with 175 points. But a change in his plans means he won’t be starting in Greece, leaving the door open for Tibor Érdi Jr and Ernie Graham to claim the inaugural EHRC title in his absence.
Ford Sierra Cosworth 4×4 pilot Érdi Jr heads to Greece with 145 points, knowing that a victory on the rugged Acropolis stages would secure him an unbeatable 187 points. Meanwhile, Graham, competing in a Ford Escort RS with his daughter Anna co-driving, has 143.5 points. If he triumphs on this legendary rally, he’ll reach 185.5 points, enough to take the crown regardless of Érdi Jr’s result.
If both Érdi Jr and Graham falter, “Zippo” could still win the title based on his lead and his Category 3 victory alongside Arena at the recent Sanremo Rally Storico.
Category 4 and other titles up for grabs
Érdi Jr and Graham are also battling for the Category 4 championship, adding another layer of drama. Graham currently leads by 29.5 points, but under the dropped-score rule—which counts only the best six results—Érdi Jr can still claim the title if he wins in Greece.
In Category 3, Christophe Jacob can secure the runner-up spot behind “Zippo” simply by starting the rally in Athens, which will earn him the 10 points he needs to surpass Guy Trolliet, who isn’t competing this weekend. Meanwhile, László Mekler has already wrapped up the Category 2 title in his Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA, and James Potter holds the Category 1 championship, although Mekler will take the FIA EHRC 1600cc Trophy on dropped scores.
In other competitions, Piotr Gadomski can lock down the FIA EHRC Front Wheel Drive Trophy by starting in Greece with his Toyota Corolla AE82, while Flexifly Rally Team has already clinched the FIA EHRC Team Trophy.
Who’s competing in the Historic Acropolis finale?
The Historic Acropolis Rally has drawn both seasoned EHRC competitors and fresh faces for the ultimate celebration of classic rallying. Among those vying for the win, Alexandros Christodoulou returns with his Category 4 Lancia 037, while Maciej Lubiak is back in his Category 3 Porsche 911 3.0 SC after racing a BMW M3 in recent rounds. Greek driver Andrea Farmakakis makes his 2024 EHRC return in a Ford Escort RS 2000, joined by newcomer Richard Jordan in the same car model.
Other notable entries include Siegfried Mayr, who switches back to his Volvo 240 after running a Saab 99 in the Lahti and Elba rounds, and James Potter, who moves up to a Category 4 Ford Escort RS 1800 MkII, having already claimed the Category 1 title in July.
Historic Acropolis Rally route: A legendary test of skill
The rally begins with a ceremonial start at the ancient Acropolis in Athens on Friday afternoon, setting the stage for a weekend of classic rally drama. Saturday’s action kicks off at the Olympic Athletic Center of Athens, with the first stage, Moschopodi (17.71 km), starting at 09:53. The longest day-one stage is followed by Thiva (14.91 km), a well-known feature of the modern WRC Acropolis Rally, and Akrefnio (10.36 km), a brand-new addition for 2024. After a regroup in Aliartos, competitors will tackle Eliknoas and the thrilling night stage at Karoutes, a famous Acropolis test.
Sunday’s stages north of Itea include repeats of Karoutes, the iconic Parnassos (15.27 km), and Prossilio (12.22 km), culminating in a second run through both stages to decide the championship. The rally concludes in Itea at 16:45 after a grueling 154.65 kilometers of competitive action across 11 stages.
FIA EHRC 2024: A season of historic firsts
The 2024 FIA EHRC season introduced three new titles: the overall FIA European Historic Rally Championship, the FIA European Historic 1600cc Trophy, and the FIA European Historic Front Wheel Drive Trophy. This expansion reflects the FIA’s commitment to raising the profile of historic rallying while providing a gateway to international competition for drivers of classic cars.
An exciting new partnership with Flexifly, a premier aircraft hire company, has further boosted the championship’s visibility. Flexifly joined as an official partner in September, offering promotional opportunities and a commemorative cap for participating crews, solidifying its support for historic rallying in partnership with EHRC stalwart contender Ernie Graham.
With everything on the line, the Historic Acropolis Rally promises an unforgettable end to an exceptional EHRC season. Rally fans won’t want to miss this legendary finale as history is made on the rally stages of Greece.
