Sebastien Ogier Admits Hankook Has Made Progress

Sebastien Ogier has admitted that Hankook has made progress with its gravel rally tyre after a punishing opening full day at Acropolis Rally Greece.

Thierry Neuville completed Friday without major trouble and retained the rally lead, while Ogier emerged as his closest challenger after a day he described as difficult for Toyota Gazoo Racing because of its early road positions.

Neuville said the key to his Friday was avoiding rocks, maintaining rhythm and adjusting his driving style once the tyres began to lose performance. The Hyundai driver stressed that tyre wear remained severe even though he avoided major damage.

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"When I felt the tyres starting to lose performance, I adapted my rhythm. I drove even more smoothly and cleanly. We have to be satisfied with the way we handled today. The car worked well in these conditions and with these tyres," said Neuville.

Ogier also said Toyota's main target on Friday was to stay out of trouble. He noted that the number of punctures and other issues showed Acropolis is being shaped not only by speed but also by keeping the tyres and car intact.

"The stage we drove twice today was incredibly abrasive. Any tyre would have struggled there. Honestly, I don't think it's fair to blame Hankook in this case because they've clearly improved the product compared to the previous rally," said Ogier.

Although Ogier offered a positive assessment, he still believes Acropolis would ideally require a reinforced tyre built specifically for its conditions, as in past eras. With current regulations not allowing that solution, tyre risk management will remain central when the rally continues into Saturday's leg.