As part of their preparation for the Acropolis Rally, which takes place on 8-11 September, Manos and Kostas Stefanis completed a day of pre-event testing with the Hyundai i20 N Rally2 they will share in this year’s 10th round of the World Rally Championship.
After their first taste from the car on Italian soil, the duo put in some useful kilometers on Sunday 4 September, so as to get more accustomed with their new car on Greek gravel.
The route of about 3 kilometres in the area of Mendenitsa in Fthiotida, had a purely “Acropolis” character, which made the testing process even more constructive.
Manos and Kostas Stefanis focused on improving the drivability of the car and testing settings at every level, from the engine to the suspension and differentials.
After the completion of testing, the Greek crew is all set to start the Acropolis Rally week in a dynamic way, beginning from the weekend of September 5-7, when the reconnaissance of the special stages is scheduled.
The purely racing part will take place on 8-11 September, with OAKA superspecial stage, scheduled for Thursday evening, September 8, being a particular highlight.
In total, Acropolis Rally 2022 includes 16 special stages, with a total length of 303.3 kilometres.
The preparation and technical support of the car has been undertaken by the Italian GB Motors.
Manos and Kostas Stefanis’ participation at the Acropolis Rally, is sponsored by Hyundai Hellas and Coral S.A. – Shell Licensee.
Crew quotes
Manos Stefanis: “It was a constructive day of testing, on a route that we consider representative of what we will encounter during the Acropolis Rally. After each pass I felt better and better with the Hyundai i20 N Rally2, which is even friendlier than I had felt during testing in Italy. Its behavior is predictable in a good way, and by testing different suspension settings, as well as engine mapping, we became even more familiar with the car, which gives us confidence ahead of the event. A demanding week begins, starting with three days of reconnaissance, before the purely competitive part of the Acropolis Rally. I’m looking forward to the start.”
Kostas Stefanis: “When you are preparing for your first participation in a new car, while also coming off a rally break, then the pre-race tests are of particular importance. As Manos mentioned, the route chosen was representative of the character of the Acropolis Rally. Our aim was to gain even better insight into the way we should adopt, in order to make the most of the assets of the excellent, in every respect, Hyundai i20 N Rally2. Indeed, we feel much more familiar with the car and ready for the challenge ahead. We are entering Acropolis Rally week, so it’s obvious that we are excited.”
Photo Credits: Rallypixels
