Neuville leads Acropolis Rally after tough opening loop

Thierry Neuville of Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team has taken the lead after the first loop of stages in the Acropolis Rally. He sits 11.0 seconds ahead of Sébastien Ogier, with Jon Armstrong in third place.

Adrien Fourmaux had been in contention for the lead but lost time due to a puncture on the Stiri stage, dropping him from first to fourth. Neuville, a two-time Acropolis winner, navigated the difficult conditions, although his car lost its front splitter during the morning's stages, affecting aerodynamic balance.

Several crews encountered issues. Oliver Solberg suffered a puncture early on, losing over a minute. Dani Sordo also faced a puncture that cost him significant time. Championship leader Elfyn Evans spent the morning sweeping the loose gravel and rocks, impacting his progress.

Jon Armstrong was a notable performer, securing third overall. His M-Sport Ford team-mates Josh McErlean and Mārtiņš Sesks also finished the loop within the top six. The rally continues with more challenging gravel stages this afternoon.