The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team (TGR WRT) has completed a very challenging weekend at the Greek Acropolis Rally without the desired overall result.
But TGR is still keeping hope with some important points secured to maintain its lead in the WRC 2022 drivers and manufacturers standings.
On its second run since returning to the World Rally Championship calendar, the Acropolis lives up to its reputation with slippery, rocky roads and high temperatures providing a formidable challenge.
For much of the weekend, the TGR team competed for the podium position but those hopes were dashed on the final morning of the day when Elfyn Evans had to retire from fourth place after engine problems on the road to the SS14.
With this, the team's focus shifts to the Power Stage as the rally concludes. Here, Kalle Rovanpera managed to record the second fastest time to claim four bonus points.
He as the drivers' standings leader had a difficult weekend after sweeping a loose gravel road on Friday before losing about 15 minutes on Saturday morning after damaging his car.
However, his talent on the Power Stage ensures Rovanpera still leads the drivers' championship with 53 points with three laps remaining.
Esapekka Lappi cruised into second place on Saturday before he slowed down and was forced to stop due to a technical problem. Restarting on Sunday, he set the fifth best time on the Power Stage.
With the points scored by Rovanperä and Lappi to reach the finish combined with the points they claimed on the Power Stage, the team still leads the factory championship with 63 points.
Takamoto Katsuta as TGR racer used the highest-finishing HYBRID GR YARIS Rally1, completing his Acropolis Rally debut in sixth to maintain an unbroken scoring record in 2022.
