Auto News 5

Jari-Matti Latvala took his first win of the season, and his first success with Volkswagen, with a huge lead over of Dani Sordo (Citroën) and Thierry Neuville (Ford), at the Acropolis Rally.

Latvala moved up to the leader board when his teammate and championship leader Sébastien Ogier, but also Mikko Hirvonen (Citroën) and Mads Ostberg (Ford) ran into some trouble in the first special stage on Friday.

Evgeny Novikov was the new leader driving his Ford Fiesta, but the Russian driver suffered a puncture on Saturday, and dropped down in classification, which put Latvala in the lead.

On Sunday, the Finn increased the gap, and concluded the event 1min50a ahead of Sordo, as Thierry Neuville completed the podium aboard his Ford Fiesta, 2min14a behind Latvala.

After their troubles in day one, Mads Ostberg concluded the event in 6th position ahead of Mikko Hirvonen as Sébastien Ogier took 10th position. The Frenchman, who took three extra points by winning the Power Stage in Greece on Saturday, remains first in provisional classification by a healthy margin.

Robert Kubica won in the WRC2 class, driving his Citroën DS3 RRC. Greece marks the Pole's first win in world rallying.

Miikka Anttila and Jari-Matti Latvala on the podium (Photo: VW Motorsport)

Final classification :
1. Latvala-Anttila (VW Polo Wrc) in 3.31'01”2

2. Sordo-Del Barrio (Citroen DS3 Wrc) + 1'50”0

3. Neuville-Gilsoul (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 2'14”1
4. Mikkelsen-Markkula (VW Polo Wrc) + 3'55”1

5. Al Attiyah-Bernacchini (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 4'12”6
6. Ostberg-Andersson (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 5'48”7

7. Prokop-Ernst (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 7'22”4

8. Hirvonen-Lehtinen (Citroen DS3 Wrc) + 7'56”2

9. Novikov-Minor (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 8'11”8

10. Ogier-Ingrassia (VW Polo Wrc) + 10'10”3
11. Kubica-Baran (Citroën DS3 RRC) + 15'19''1
Etc.

Championship :
1. Ogier 126 points, 2. Latvala 74, 3. Loeb 68, 4. Hirvonen 63, 5. Neuville 50, etc.