Mon May 9, 2016

 Post Acropolis press conference Present: Ralfs Sirmacis/Arturs Šimins, Sports Racing Technologies ŠKODA Fabia R5, first place Lambros Athanassoulas/Elias Panagiotounis, Lascaris Foundation Team Greece ŠKODA Fabia R5, second place Jaromír Tarabus/Daniel Trunkát, T&T Czech National Team ŠKODA Fabia R5, third p...

 Sensational Sirmacis wins Acropolis Young Latvian Ralfs Sirmacis has secured an incredible win on the legendary SEAJETS Acropolis Rally on his first start at the top level of the FIA European Rally Championship. The 21-year-old was competing in his first rally in an R5-specification car after stepping up from th...

Sun May 8, 2016

NEWS JUST IN

 GR SS12 - end @ 07:02 PM - Koltun and Erdi lose places with punctures. Lukyanuk manages top10 after all, previous stage was only a lose turbo pipe. iggest story of last stage: Athanassoulas caught car ahead and was stuck in his dust for 15km and keeps 2nd by only 0.1s - he gets a time correction by the stewarts later. Final results (after SS12)(subject to last road section and scrutineering):
1st= Sirmacis/Simins, Skoda, 2m53m12s5;
2nd= Athanassoulas/Panagiotounis, Skoda, +2m10s3;
3rd= Tarabus/Trunkat, Skoda, +2m42s4;
4th= Jeets/Toom, Skoda, +5m41s9;
5th= Chuchala/Dymurski, Subaru, +8m19s9;
6th= Koltun/Pleskot, Ford, +9m11s1;
7th= Kasperczyk/Syty, Ford, +10m40s4;
8th= Kajetanowicz/Baran, Ford, +13m58s1;
9th= Rios/Vargas Pena, Mitsubishi, +20m09s6;
10th= Lukyanuk/Kapustin, Ford, +20m15s5

 GR SS11 @ 06:30 PM - Next problem for Lukyanuk, turbo, no power at all. 2min time loss and question mark if he can even start the last, long stage. Results after SS11:
1st= Sirmacis/Simins, Skoda, 2m28m51s3;
2nd= Athanassoulas/Panagiotounis, Skoda, +1m40s4;
3rd= Tarabus/Trunkat, Skoda, +2m16s;
4th= Jeets/Toom, Skoda, +4m48s6;
5th= Koltun/Pleskot, Ford, +5m31s6;
6th= Chuchala/Dymurski, Subaru, +6m57s6;
7th= Ranga/Ban, Mitsubishi, +8m40s;
8th= Kasperczyk/Syty, Ford, +9m09s;
9th= Kajetanowicz/Baran, Ford, +14m10s8;
10th= Erdi/Papp, Mitsubishi, +16m10s1

 GR SS10 @ 06:10 PM - Iavaris Junior retires from 10th which helps Kajto into top10. Kajto wants day win, but it is Lukyanuk who wins stage. Results after SS10:
1st= Sirmacis/Simins, Skoda, 2m20m04s5;
2nd= Athanassoulas/Panagiotounis, Skoda, +1m30s9;
3rd= Tarabus/Trunkat, Skoda, +2m09s3;
4th= Jeets/Toom, Skoda, +4m33s5;
5th= Koltun/Pleskot, Ford, +5m24s6;
6th= Chuchala/Dymurski, Subaru, +6m26s9;
7th= Ranga/Ban, Mitsubishi, +8m08s3;
8th= Kasperczyk/Syty, Ford, +8m34s9;
9th= Kajetanowicz/Baran, Ford, +14m11s4;
10th= Erdi/Papp, Mitsubishi, +15m

 GR SS9 - Lukyanuk way down @ 09:19 AM - This now looks like a Sirmacis win with the main title competitors in similar delays. After Kajto dramas in SS1, now Lukyanuk hit a hole that wasn't in the pace notes and damaged the suspension, dropping 17min and way outside the top10. Panteli on fire, crew OK. Kajto now 11th with chance for top10, Lukyanuk 14th. Results after SS9:
1st= Sirmacis/Simins, Skoda, 2m08m42s5;
2nd= Athanassoulas/Panagiotounis, Skoda, +1m18s5;
3rd= Tarabus/Trunkat, Skoda, +1m54s2;
4th= Jeets/Toom, Skoda, +3m50s4;
5th= Koltun/Pleskot, Ford, +5m09s7;
6th= Chuchala/Dymurski, Subaru, +5m52s8;
7th= Ranga/Ban, Mitsubishi, +7m10s2;
8th= Kasperczyk/Syty, Ford, +7m53s2;
9th= "Iavaris Jr"/Koltsidas, Mitsubishi, +9m40s8;
10th= Erdi/Papp, Mitsubishi, +13m37s4

 GR SS8 @ 08:32 AM - Kajto wins 2nd stage in a row. Lukyanuk loses a few more secs to Sirmacis, saying he is saving his tyres for the big 34km stage next. Athanassoulas passes Tarabus for 3rd. Results after SS8:
1st= Sirmacis/Simins, Skoda, 1m44m11s3;
2nd= Lukyanuk/Kapustin, Ford, +20s9;
3rd= Athanassoulas/Panagiotounis, Skoda, +1m09s2;
4th= Tarabus/Trunkat, Skoda, +1m12s3;
5th= Jeets/Toom, Skoda, +2m56s1;
6th= Koltun/Pleskot, Ford, +4m25s9;
7th= Chuchala/Dymurski, Subaru, +4m44s4;
8th= Ranga/Ban, Mitsubishi, +5m45s2;
9th= Kasperczyk/Syty, Ford, +6m24s7;
10th= Panteli/Konstantinov, Mitsubishi, +6m39s7

 GR SS7 @ 07:34 AM - Leading crews on a mission. Sirmacis and Lukyanuk both go off in the same corner! Both continue, however Lukyanuk with a puncture, so lead is back to Sirmacis. Koltun puncture plus 1min time penalty lateness. Athanassoulas catches Tarabus. Results after SS7:
1st= Sirmacis/Simins, Skoda, 1m35m16s2;
2nd= Lukyanuk/Kapustin, Ford, +17s6;
3rd= Tarabus/Trunkat, Skoda, +1m05s9;
4th= Athanassoulas/Panagiotounis, Skoda, +1m07s2;
5th= Jeets/Toom, Skoda, +2m40s4;
6th= Koltun/Pleskot, Ford, +4m14s8;
7th= Chuchala/Dymurski, Subaru, +4m18s7;
8th= Ranga/Ban, Mitsubishi, +5m18s;
9th= Kasperczyk/Syty, Ford, +5m48s;
10th= Panteli/Konstantinov, Mitsubishi, +5m58s8

Sat May 7, 2016

 Lukyanuk battles Sirmacis for victory Alexey Lukyanuk and Ralfs Sirmacis are separated by just two seconds after an eventful opening day on round three of the FIA European Rally Championship, the legendary SEAJETS Acropolis Rally. Latvian youngster Sirmacis is enjoying an outstanding debut at the top level of the ...

NEWS JUST IN

 GR SS6 - day1 @ 03:32 PM - ATTENTION: The lead changed as Lukyanuk's (and Tarabus' and Athanassoulas') SS3 time penalty was removed. Dramatic end of day. Suddenly it rains, Athanassoulas on wrong tyres drops a place. Lukyanuk wins stage and narrows gap to leader to just 8s. Results after SS6:
1st= Lukyanuk/Kapustin, Ford, 1m23m27s4;
2nd= Sirmacis/Simins, Skoda, +2s;
3rd= Tarabus/Trunkat, Skoda, +47s5;
4th= Athanassoulas/Panagiotounis, Skoda, +1m07s;
5th= Jeets/Toom, Skoda, +2m13s4;
6th= Koltun/Pleskot, Ford, +2m15s4;
7th= Chuchala/Dymurski, Subaru, +3m48s2;
8th= Ranga/Ban, Mitsubishi, +4m16s9;
9th= Kasperczyk/Syty, Ford, +4m49s6;
10th= Panteli/Konstantinov, Mitsubishi, +4m56s3

 GR SS5 @ 02:31 PM - Botka retires just after reaching the top10. Sirmacis edges 1.2s out of Lukyanuk again. Results after SS5:
1st= Sirmacis/Simins, Skoda, 1m13m11s6;
2nd= Lukyanuk/Kapustin, Ford, +20s7;
3rd= Tarabus/Trunkat, Skoda, +48s1;
4th= Athanassoulas/Panagiotounis, Skoda, +56s8;
5th= Jeets/Toom, Skoda, +2m01s6;
6th= Koltun/Pleskot, Ford, +2m14s9;
7th= Chuchala/Dymurski, Subaru, +3m27s4;
8th= Ranga/Ban, Mitsubishi, +3m39s8;
9th= Tlustak/Kucera, Citroen, +3m46s8;
10th= Kasperczyk/Syty, Ford, +4m32s6

 GR SS4 @ 01:47 PM - Another stage win for Kajto. Spins for Lukyanuk and Sirmacis. Tarabus passes Athanassoulas for 4th and Della Casa retires from 6th. Results after SS4:
1st= Sirmacis/Simins, Skoda, 1m03m34s;
2nd= Lukyanuk/Kapustin, Ford, +19s5;
3rd= Tarabus/Trunkat, Skoda, +39s3;
4th= Athanassoulas/Panagiotounis, Skoda, +48s7;
5th= Jeets/Toom, Skoda, +1m43s4;
6th= Koltun/Pleskot, Ford, +2m01s8;
7th= Chuchala/Dymurski, Subaru, +3m03s7;
8th= Ranga/Ban, Mitsubishi, +3m05s5;
9th= Botka/Szeles, Citroen, +3m08s7;
10th= Tlustak/Kucera, Skoda, +3m28s6

 GR SS3 @ 10:55 AM - This is more the normal order with Lukyanuk & Kajto 1st & 2nd in the stage. But still good news for Sirmacis, as the drivers in 2nd, 3rd & 4th o/a all show a 10sec penalty for jump start SS3. Results after SS3:
1st= Sirmacis/Simins, Skoda, 41m23s;
2nd= Lukyanuk/Kapustin, Ford, +27s2;
3rd= Athanassoulas/Panagiotounis, Skoda, +41s8;
4th= Tarabus/Trunkat, Skoda, +52s2;
5th= Jeets/Toom, Skoda, +1m18s2;
6th= Della Casa/Pozzi, Peugeot, +1m36s2;
7th= Koltun/Pleskot, Ford, +1m47s3;
8th= Chuchala/Dymurski, Subaru, +2m03s5;
9th= Tlustak/Kucera, Skoda, +2m15s8;
10th= Ranga/Ban, Mitsubishi, +2m20s2

 GR SS2 @ 09:44 AM - Lukyanuk has a puncture, so Sirmacis has an even bigger lead now. Kajto wins stage but he has lost 14min in previous stage and a very 2nd hand looking car. Results after SS2:
1st= Sirmacis/Simins, Skoda, 32m05s5;
2nd= Lukyanuk/Kapustin, Ford, +26s;
3rd= Athanassoulas/Panagiotounis, Skoda, +31s6;
4th= Tarabus/Trunkat, Skoda, +39s5;
5th= Jeets/Toom, Skoda, +1m04s3
6th= Della Casa/Pozzi, Peugeot, +1m14s;
7th= Tlustak/Kucera, Skoda, +1m28s4;
8th= Koltun/Pleskot, Ford, +1m32s3;
9th= Chuchala/Dymurski, Subaru, +1m42s2;
10th= Ranga/Ban, Mitsubishi, +1m55s3

 GR SS1 - Kajto out already! @ 09:20 AM - Although stage seems surprisingly smooth, dramatic start: Botka has no engine for last 2kms but eventually gets it fired up again. Kajto rolls in early part of stage. Sirmacis surprise leader after SS1. Results after SS1:
1st= Sirmacis/Simins, Skoda, 22m18s7;
2nd= Lukyanuk/Kapustin, Ford, +4s4;
3rd= Athanassoulas/Panagiotounis, Skoda, +22s9;
4th= Tarabus/Trunkat, Skoda, +26s1;
5th= Jeets/Toom, Skoda, +47s
6th= Della Casa/Pozzi, Peugeot, +50s5;
7th= Tlustak/Kucera, Skoda, +59s2;
8th= Koltun/Pleskot, Ford, +1m05s5;
9th= Ranga/Ban, Mitsubishi, +1m15s5;
10th= Chuchala/Dymurski, Subaru, +1m18s8

Fri May 6, 2016

 Acropolis pre event press conference ERC SEAJETS ACROPOLIS RALLY PRE-EVENT PRESS CONFERENCE: Present: Alexey Lukyanuk, Ford Fiesta R5 Lambros Athanassoulas, Lascaris Foundation Team Greece ŠKODA Fabia R5 Ralfs Sirmacis, Sports Racing Technologies ŠKODA Fabia R5 ...