Yuki Yamamoto and Hikaru Kogure Face Challenges at Acropolis Rally

July 6, 2025
Yuki Yamamoto and Hikaru Kogure Face Challenges at Acropolis Rally

In a notable debut at the Acropolis Rally Greece, held from June 26-29, 2025, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRC Challenge Program drivers Yuki Yamamoto and Hikaru Kogure encountered significant challenges during one of the most demanding rounds of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). Both drivers faced the rigors of Greece's notoriously tough terrain, characterized by rough, rocky stages and extreme temperatures exceeding 40°C.

Yuki Yamamoto, navigating the Acropolis for the first time, demonstrated early confidence and pace, building on lessons learned from previous gravel rallies in Portugal and Sardinia. However, during the third stage, he collided with a rock displaced onto the road, damaging the rear-left suspension of his GR Yaris Rally2. Despite his and co-driver James Fulton’s attempts to repair the vehicle, they were forced to retire for the remainder of the day, marking a significant setback in their debut.

Conversely, Hikaru Kogure showcased resilience, completing the demanding first day despite suffering from punctures that cost him valuable time. Unfortunately, he crashed out of the rally on Saturday, sustaining significant damage to his vehicle alongside co-driver Topi Luhtinen. Fortunately, both drivers emerged unharmed, but Kogure's exit marked a disappointing end to their rally ambitions.

Juho Hänninen, the WRC Challenge Program instructor, remarked on the difficulty of the rally, noting, "This was certainly a very tough rally with the rough conditions. The rally started well for Hikaru with a solid day on Friday with no big mistakes or issues... Then on Saturday morning he made a mistake with quite big consequences in that the car could not be repaired for him to restart."

Yamamoto, reflecting on his performance, stated, "I was very happy to reach the finish of this rally; I think it was probably the roughest and toughest rally that I’ve ever done. There were lots of things happening during the weekend. On SS3 I was quickest on the first split but there was a huge rock on the road that I wasn’t able to avoid... But when I had a good feeling, the pace was there."

The results of the rally highlighted the competitive nature of the WRC, with Oliver Solberg and Elliott Edmondson clinching first place in the WRC2 class, finishing in 4h22m54.8s. Yamamoto and Fulton finished in 20th position, while Kogure and Luhtinen were forced to retire. With the Acropolis Rally now concluded, attention turns to the upcoming Rally Estonia, set to take place from July 17-20, 2025, where the drivers will face the fastest gravel roads in the world, presenting new opportunities and challenges for Yamamoto and Kogure.

The Acropolis Rally serves as a key event in the WRC calendar, renowned not only for its challenging conditions but also for its rich history in motorsport. As the drivers move forward, their experiences in Greece will undoubtedly contribute to their development and performance in future rallies, especially in the more familiar stages that await in Estonia and Finland. Both drivers expressed optimism regarding their progress and the lessons learned, indicating a commitment to improve and adapt in the face of such formidable challenges.

Advertisement

Fake Ad Placeholder (Ad slot: YYYYYYYYYY)

Tags

Yuki YamamotoHikaru KogureToyota Gazoo RacingAcropolis Rally GreeceFIA World Rally ChampionshipWRC Challenge Programmotorsportrally racinggravel rallyWRC2 classOliver SolbergJames FultonTopi LuhtinenJuho Hänninensuspension damagecompetitive stage timespuncturesretirementrally experienceEstonia Rallyrally challengesGreece rallydrivers' debutWRC standingsmotorsport challengesperformance analysisthermal conditionsstage difficultiesvehicle repairsfuture rallies

Advertisement

Fake Ad Placeholder (Ad slot: ZZZZZZZZZZ)