Jari-Matti Latvala has taken the 2013 Acropolis Rally lead following trouble for the usual front runners.
Sebastien Ogier, Mikko Hirvonen and Mads Ostberg all had their share of bad luck on Friday’s opening stage with Ogier forced to stop due to a mechanical problem on his Polo R WRC; a steering issue on Hirvonen’s Citroen cost him almost 6 minutes, while Mads Ostberg lost his M-Sport Ford’s wheel.
Evgeny Novikov emerged as the rally leader with Dani Sordo placed second; the Russian then extended the gap to Sordo by almost 30 seconds before puncturing a tyre on SS4 and dropping more than 4 minutes which gave Latvala, who was quickest at the time, the rally lead, followed by Sordo.
Latvala enters Saturday’s second loop 18 seconds ahead of Citroen rival Dani Sordo. Thierry Neuville is currently third, 52 seconds clear of fourth-placed Nasser Al-Attiyah.