- For this special occasion, the motto “49 years rocks & dust” was created in collaboration with world renowned car designer Sotiris Kovos, who also designed the livery of the Ford Fiesta Rally3.
- See also, a video including greetings and wishes from Juha Kankkunen, Miki Biasion and Marcus Gronholm, who are all good friends of Kostas Stefanis, have starred at the Acropolis Rally and have won in total, 8 World titles.
At the Ceremonial Start of Acropolis Rally 2024, 10th round of WRC that is scheduled for 5-8 September, the “Traction Rally Team” crew of Manos and Kostas Stefanis will seal a milestone participation.
The reason is that legendary Greek co-driver Kostas Stefanis, will be at the start of famous event for the 30th time, whilst also being active for 49 years and 3 months, since he debuted at the Acropolis Rally and as a result, in WRC, at 1975.
In fact, it is worth noting that this specific gap between first and last -so far- start in a WRC event (from 1973 until today), brings him in a very close league of only 2 competitors* and more specifically, co-drivers, who have been active in the World Rally Championship for more than 49 years!
To commemorate this special occasion, this years’ participation will be accompanied by the motto “49 years rocks & dust”, which encloses Kostas’ career at the Acropolis Rally the best possible way.
Both for the motto and the livery of the Ford Fiesta Rally3, the “Traction Rally Team” had close collaboration once more, with world renowned automotive designer, Sotiris Kovos.
Furthermore, on the occasion of this participation, Kostas Stefanis received greetings from some good friends of his, who have written their own history in the special stages of both Acropolis Rally and the WRC, whilst having a cumulative sum of 7 wins in Greece and 8 World Championships respectively.
So, in the video attached at the end of this press release, you may see and hear what Juha Kankkunen (1986, 1987, 1991, 1993 and 1986, 1991 Acropolis Rally winner), Miki Biasion (1988, 1989 World Rally Champion and 1988, 1989, 1993 Acropolis Rally winner) and Marcus Gronholm (2000, 2002 World Rally Champion and 2006, 2007 Acropolis Rally winner) had to say for Kostas Stefanis.
Kind reminder, that Manos and Kostas Stefanis will compete at the Acropolis Rally 2024 in a Ford Fiesta Rally3, prepared and supported by M-Sport Poland.
Apart from Overall Classification and RC3 class, the duo will also be part of WRC3.
The participation of Manos and Kostas Stefanis is sponsored by Coral S.A. – Shell Licensee.
*Statistical data from www.ewrc-results.com/
Kostas Stefanis
49 years rocks & dust
DoB: 5/6/1949
Rally debut: 1970
Acropolis Rally debut: 1975
WRC participations: 32
Acropolis Rally participations: 29
Acropolis Rally achievements: 9 times First Greek co-driver alongside “Iaveris” (1979), Andreas Papatriantafillou (1983), “Jigger” (1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992), Aris Vovos (overall winners in 1995), Panagiotis Chatzitsopanis (2001)
Top10 Finishes: 6+1
1979: 5th position (“Iaveris”, Ford Escort RS 1800 MK II)
1988: 6th position (“Jigger”, Lancia Delta Integrale)
1989: 9th position (“Jigger”, Lancia Delta HF 4WD)
1990: 7th position (“Jigger”, Lancia Delta Integrale 16V)
1991: 10th position (“Jigger”, Lancia Delta Integrale 16V)
1992: 8th position (“Jigger”, Toyota Celica GT-4 ST-165)
1995: Winner (Aris Vovos, Lancia Delta HF Integrale)
The rally was part of FIA 2L WRC
Titles: 17 Co-drivers Championships in Greece (Overall, F2, Group N)
Quotes
Kostas Stefanis: “Every participation in the Acropolis Rally gives me great pleasure, but this year’s occasion also gives me a thrill. Having been lucky enough to be present at almost every decade of the Acropolis being part of the World Rally Championship, it is no exaggeration to say that this particular and undoubtedly, my favourite race, has shaped me as a competitor and defined me as a person. This year, I will be on the start line for the 30th time, while completing 49 years and 3 months of active WRC racing, which only Finland’s Timo Hantunen exceeds for a few months, at world level. I believe that the motto “49 years rocks & dust” reflects my career in the Acropolis Rally, from the 70s to the present day. I would like to thank all the drivers I have worked with during these decades and of course Manos, with whom we will make this year’s trip to the beautiful Greek mountains. Obviously, I cannot fail to thank my friend Sotiris Kovos for his contribution to the shaping of our motto and for the excellent design of the Ford Fiesta Rally3 livery, as well as my good friends and great rally drivers Juha, Miki and Marcus, for their very humbling words.”
Manos Stefanis: “The Acropolis Rally has always been a roller-coaster of memories for me, because since my childhood, it had been the landmark event of every year. Watching closely the participation of Kostas, alongside top Greek drivers, I had the willingness, from a very young age, to participate myself, not as a co-driver like he did, but as a driver. The years went by and so far, I have participated in 3 Acropolis Rallies, but there is no doubt that this year’s edition is very special. The occasion of Kostas 30th participation in 49 years, which makes him one of the longest standing competitors in the history of WRC, brings me unique feelings. The motto we will have at the Ford Fiesta Rally3, perfectly sums up the career, as well as the perception of Kostas for rallying. As for the livery of our car, I can only thank once again Sotiris Kovos for his wonderful work.”
Sotiris Kovos: “To be honest, I have known Kostas for many years, but could never really realize that he has been competing at the Acropolis Rally for almost have a century. The freshness he exudes, his passion for rallying, his perpetual movement, are not consistent with someone who for years endlessly passes over every waterfall in the Greek mountains… His ability to convey his experience from the special stages in his own unique, colorful way is like projecting an endless stream of images that takes you deep back in time. He is the living history of what we have come to know and love, the Acropolis Rally.
“When I was given the opportunity to design the colours for the car and for the motto for the 49th anniversary, the first images that came to mind were the dust and rocks from the back of the rally car, which is trying to pull itself roaring off the top of a hairpin. Hell on Earth! Dust and rocks blasting everywhere. Dust and rocks. This image is the identity of Acropolis in my eyes. The motto had just been born.
As for the colour scheme of the Fiesta, the idea was to capture this relationship of passion through the colour that represents it, the red. Deep back in time, from the white of childhood innocence to the deep red of volcanic lava. The evolution of a life. The colours of Shell are synchronized in the same spirit. They all blend together harmoniously and effortlessly.”
The wishes from Kostas Stefanis’ friends in one video
