Toni Gardemeister and Roman Kresta have been given carte blanche to drive at the limit in this weekend’s Acropolis Rally – a task that will be easier if there was no rain, the Ford drivers say.
Toni Gardemeister and Roman Kresta have been given carte blanche to drive at the limit in this weekend’s Acropolis Rally – a task that will be easier if there was no rain, the Ford drivers say.
Ford WRC team boss Malcolm Wilson this week said that he wanted his drivers to push for the podium on this weekend’s rough gravel event after taking a conservative approach for the first half of the year. Ford traditionally excels on the Acropolis Rally, having won five of the last eight events there.
Gardemeister, who currently lies fifth in the drivers’ standings, could benefit from running fifth on the road on Friday’s opening leg, especially if the weather turns out hot and dry in the run-up to the opening leg of the event on Friday.
“I’d prefer it if it stays dry, because consistent weather makes tyre selection easier and grip is dependable,” he said. “It’s a rally where start position is important because there’s always plenty of loose, slippery gravel on the roads for the first few cars, which is then swept away.
“I have quite a good start position, but I remember last year the first 10 cars on the stage were finding it quite slippery, so I will have to wait and see. I enjoy driving in Greece and I think it would be realistic to aim for a podium finish. I have a strong car, and I’d like to have a clean run and get a good result for the team.”
Kresta, who has only competed on the Acropolis event three times, has never finished the rally. “It’s difficult to say where I can finish, but I’d be really pleased with a top six position and I think Malcolm would be happy with that too,” he said.
