Oliver Solberg Retires After SS7 Acropolis Crash

Oliver Solberg retired from Acropolis Rally Greece after sliding off the road on SS7 and becoming stranded on the final stage of Friday.

The Toyota Gazoo Racing driver lost control and left his car stuck on the bank, bringing another difficult chapter to a 2026 campaign that has already featured several costly setbacks and retirements.

Meanwhile, Thierry Neuville completed the opening full day of competition still leading the rally. The Hyundai driver said he maintained a consistent rhythm throughout the afternoon while prioritising tyre preservation on the rough gravel roads.

Read AlsoNeuville Responds as Ogier Pressure Builds in Greece

"We drove at the same rhythm all afternoon. I was right on the limit with the tyres, and they were completely worn out before this stage. We didn't take any risks during the day," said Neuville.

Sami Pajari also endured a difficult Friday after an afternoon puncture dropped him well down the order. Despite the setback, the Finn insisted the team would continue pushing through the remaining stages.

Acropolis Rally Greece resumes on Saturday with six demanding special stages expected to place further emphasis on reliability, tyre management and consistency. After several incidents during Friday's running, the battle for victory remains wide open heading into the weekend's decisive stages.