29 Jun Alejandro Cachón and Borja Rozada secure another podium finish with third place at the demanding 2026 Acropolis Rally
Diego Domínguez and Rogelio Peñate deliver an impressive performance to finish inside the WRC2 Top Five at the 2026 Acropolis Rally
The Paraguayan driver and his Gran Canaria co-driver overcame multiple setbacks to finish fifth in WRC2 and fourth in WRC2 Challenger, capping off the rally by setting the second-fastest time in the category on the Power Stage.
Diego Domínguez and Rogelio Peñate produced an outstanding performance at the 2026 Acropolis Rally, one of the toughest events on the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) calendar, demonstrating impressive speed, consistency and resilience to secure a well-earned fifth place in WRC2 and fourth in WRC2 Challenger.
The weekend began with the shakedown, where the crew focused on building confidence and adapting the car to the extremely demanding conditions of the Greek stages. In the opening special stage, they moved into third place in WRC2 Challenger and fifth in WRC2, just 1.5 seconds off the fastest time, while prioritising tyre management ahead of the gruelling Friday leg.
Friday started strongly, with the duo showing highly competitive pace over the opening two stages. However, their rally took a setback on the third stage when they were forced to drive for several kilometres through the dust left by another competitor, costing them nearly 50 seconds. The same situation occurred again later in the day, with the crew ultimately losing more than a minute and a half for the same reason. Despite these setbacks, they ended Friday ninth in WRC2, encouraged by their pace and pleased to have completed the day without suffering a single puncture.
Saturday presented another major challenge. At the very start of the day, a broken rear suspension forced Domínguez and Peñate to complete the remainder of the morning loop under extremely difficult conditions, focusing solely on limiting the time loss and reaching the service park. After the team repaired the car, the pair rediscovered their pace during the afternoon, producing an impressive comeback to finish the day seventh in WRC2 and sixth in WRC2 Challenger.
Their efforts throughout the rally were rewarded on the final day. Maintaining a strong and consistent pace, the duo climbed to fifth overall in WRC2 and capped off their performance with an outstanding Power Stage, setting the second-fastest time in the category.
The result confirms the excellent level of competitiveness displayed by Diego Domínguez and Rogelio Peñate throughout the weekend. Despite the incidents that prevented them from fighting for even higher positions, they once again proved they have the pace to challenge at the front of the WRC2 field.
Diego Domínguez (DRIVER): “It was a very tough rally, but we managed to overcome every problem that came our way. The team did a fantastic job, and finishing fifth in WRC2 after everything that happened is a result we’re very happy with. Ending the rally with a strong Power Stage confirms that we had very competitive pace throughout the weekend”.
Rogelio Peñate (CODRIVER): “It was a very demanding weekend with several setbacks, but we never stopped fighting. Our comeback reflects the hard work of the entire team, and we leave Greece feeling very positive ahead of the next rounds.”.
Teo Martín (TEAM MANAGER): “I’m extremely proud of the work done by the entire team. We reacted well to every challenge we faced, and this Top Five finish in WRC2 is a well-deserved reward for Diego and Rogelio after such a demanding rally”.
Andrea Lafarja and Germán Maune Claim Another Podium Finish at the 2026 Acropolis Rally
Andrea Lafarja and Germán Maune delivered another impressive performance at the 2026 Acropolis Rally, one of the toughest events on the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) calendar, securing third place in the WRC Masters Cup after overcoming a mechanical issue during the second leg.
The crew made a positive start to the demanding Greek event. Lafarja and Maune set the fourth-fastest time in the WRC Masters Cup during the Loutraki shakedown and repeated that position after the opening special stage, focusing on building confidence and finding the right rhythm for the gruelling days ahead.
Friday unfolded according to plan, with Lafarja and Maune producing a solid and consistent performance. Avoiding unnecessary risks while maintaining a steady pace, they ended the day in third place in the WRC Masters Cup, firmly established in the podium positions.
Saturday, expected to be the most demanding leg of the rally, brought a major challenge. With the crew running third in class and holding a comfortable 19-minute advantage over the fourth-placed competitor, a broken alternator pulley on the road section to SS11 seriously compromised their rally. Despite the setback, the team worked tirelessly to return the car to competition and give the crew a chance to fight back during the final day.
On Sunday, Lafarja and Maune set out determined to complete their comeback. Delivering a composed and mistake-free performance, they regained third place in the WRC Masters Cup, securing another valuable podium finish.
With this result, Andrea Lafarja and Germán Maune record their fourth consecutive WRC Masters Cup podium, highlighting the consistency they have demonstrated throughout the season, even under the most demanding conditions.
Andrea Lafarja (DRIVER): “It was a very demanding rally, but I’m very happy with the result. We managed to overcome a major problem and come back to secure another podium, which means a great deal to us”.
Germán Maune (CODRIVER): “We never stopped believing in our chances. The team did an outstanding job to get us back into the rally, and finishing third is a reward for everyone’s hard work throughout the weekend.”.
Teo Martín (TEAM MANAGER): “Another podium finish at a rally as demanding as the Acropolis is a testament to the consistency and commitment shown by Andrea, Germán and the entire team. This result allows us to continue building confidence and maintain our positive momentum in the championship”.
Alejandro Cachón and Borja Rozada finished third in WRC2 and second in the WRC2 Challenger category at one of the toughest events on the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) calendar. The result marks the Spanish duo’s third podium of the season and moves the Asturian driver up to second place in the WRC2 standings with 61 points.
The Acropolis Rally once again lived up to its reputation, presenting a true test of endurance with scorching temperatures, rocky roads, deep ruts and relentless surface degradation that demanded careful management throughout the weekend. On terrain where a single puncture could ruin an entire rally, Cachón and Rozada adopted a championship-focused approach, avoiding unnecessary risks and managing every stage intelligently.
The opening leg was a display of maturity. Cachón and Rozada began the rally with a conservative strategy, steering clear of damage and punctures on the rough Greek stages. During Stage 7, a rock impact at their Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, smashing the windscreen. Despite the incident, the Spanish crew set the fastest WRC2 stage time and ended Friday in third place in WRC2, 31.4 seconds off the lead, while holding second position in the WRC2 Challenger classification.
Saturday proved particularly challenging. Cachón struggled to find the confidence he needed and chose to continue preserving both tyres and the car. A minor overshoot under braking at one corner cost valuable time and dropped the crew from third to fourth in WRC2. They completed the second leg just seven seconds away from the podium, keeping their chances alive for the final day.
On Sunday, the crew lost time due to heavy dust left hanging in the air during Stage 15. Nevertheless, they remained composed, avoided further setbacks and secured a podium finish in WRC2, while also taking second place in WRC2 Challenger. It was a crucial result for their championship campaign, especially at an event where the main objective was to score as many points as possible and leave Greece with a strong haul.
With this result, Cachón climbs to 61 points and moves into second place in the overall WRC2 standings. In WRC2 Challenger, he further strengthens his championship lead with 74 points, underlining a season in which consistency, speed and adaptability have established both him and Rozada among the benchmark crews in the category.
The result in Greece also confirms the strong pace they previously demonstrated on gravel at Rally Portugal, where Cachón and Rozada briefly led the event. At the Acropolis Rally, the goal was to convert that speed into valuable championship points—and the Spanish pairing achieved exactly that at one of the most demanding rallies of the season.
Alejandro Cachón (DRIVER): “It has been a very tough rally, as the Acropolis always is. We knew we couldn’t drive flat out without thinking about the championship, because a puncture or any damage could have ruined all our hard work. On Friday we managed the stages carefully, saving our tyres for the final stage, and it paid off because we were able to set the fastest WRC2 time. On Saturday I didn’t have as much confidence as I would have liked and I ran a little wide in one corner, but we stayed in the fight. Finishing on the podium, taking our third podium of the season, and leaving Greece second in WRC2 and leading WRC2 Challenger is extremely important for us”.
Borja Rozada (CODRIVER): “We’re very pleased to have secured another podium finish on gravel. From the very beginning we had a clear strategy: avoid mistakes, look after the car and stay away from punctures in a rally where it was very easy to lose everything. It was an event that required constant management, with rough sections and a lot of dust, but the team did a fantastic job and we focused on driving with the championship always in mind. Finishing third in WRC2 and second in WRC2 Challenger keeps us firmly in contention heading into the second half of the season”.
Teo Martín (TEAM MANAGER): “This podium is especially valuable given how demanding the Acropolis Rally is. Alejandro and Borja delivered a very intelligent performance, managing every situation with maturity and securing extremely important points in both championships. We leave Greece having strengthened our lead in WRC2 Challenger and moved up to second place in WRC2, so we couldn’t be happier with the work done by the entire team.”.