Ogier Closes Further on Neuville After SS9

Sebastien Ogier continued to reduce the advantage of Thierry Neuville after SS9, tightening the battle for victory at Acropolis Rally Greece.

The Toyota Gazoo Racing driver gained more time on Neuville, cutting the overall margin to less than five seconds. Despite the pressure, the Hyundai driver remained in the overall lead with four more special stages still to come on Saturday.

"I don't know, probably sliding too much in the end. I was missing a bit of grip and maybe we should have adapted the setup a little. When the tyres get hot, they lose efficiency. It's okay. The rally is very long and we've already seen that you have to manage," said Neuville.

Baca JugaNeuville Balas Ogier, Duel Acropolis Makin Sengit

Ogier admitted the contest was becoming increasingly intense. Although SS9 was smoother than many of the earlier stages, he said tyre punctures remained a constant concern, preventing drivers from pushing without considering the risks.

Meanwhile, Adrien Fourmaux set the fastest time on SS9 but remained third overall. The Hyundai driver described the stage as extremely slippery and easy to make mistakes on, while believing there was still more pace to unlock.

With only a handful of seconds separating the leading pair, Acropolis Rally Greece has entered a decisive phase. Tyre management, setup choices and avoiding costly mistakes are expected to determine who emerges victorious by the end of the rally.