Mikkelsen holds the line at Acropolis Rally in WRC2 battle
Andreas Mikkelsen is putting on a masterclass in risk management here at the Acropolis. Driving his Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, the Norwegian finished the second full day with a 13.9sec lead over his Toksport teammate Robert Virves. It is a stunning display of speed in conditions where, as Mikkelsen admitted, just hearing about other drivers' punctures while sitting at the start line is enough to rattle anyone.
Mikkelsen started the day with an 8.2sec advantage and managed to stretch it out, though Virves kept him honest throughout the afternoon. Even after the drama of the shortened Ghymno stage, where Virves fought back, Mikkelsen regained his composure on the final Menalo Mt stage to solidify his position. It has been a proper fight, with Virves—who lost out on a win here to Sami Pajari in 2024—refusing to back down.
Further back, Jan Solans has climbed into third, sitting 1min 16.9sec off the lead in his Fabia. He is ahead of the Toyota of Alejandro Cachón, who slipped back after a wide moment, while Roope Korhonen and Pablo Sarrazin hold fifth and sixth. It was a tough morning for the field, though, as championship leader Yohan Rossel was forced to retire his Lancia due to engine failure.
