Acropolis Rally 2026: Toyota’s podium doubles shake up championship race

The Greek heat and rocky terrain of Loutraki proved decisive on June 28, 2026, as the Acropolis Rally delivered a weekend of contrasting fortunes. The eighth round of the 2026 WRC World Rally Car Championship saw Toyota secure two podium finishes, reshaping the battle for the title with just half the season complete.

Sébastien Ogier and Vincent Landais claimed a podium spot. Takamoto Katsuta and Aaron Johnston also finished on the rostrum. Two strong results underscored Toyota’s consistency across the demanding Greek stages, but the real story lay in how the results rippled through the championship standings.

Sami Pajari pulled away from Oliver Solberg in the championship race. Solberg emerged as the weekend’s big loser—his hopes of maintaining pressure at the top derailed by the unforgiving Acropolis terrain. Meanwhile, Katsuta remained in contention at the summit of the standings, keeping Toyota’s title ambitions alive through multiple drivers.

An unexpected subplot unfolded when Adrien Fourmaux and Josh McErlean inadvertently gifted valuable points to Sami Pajari and Elfyn Evans. The miscalculation handed their rivals a boost at a critical juncture, underscoring how quickly momentum shifts in a tightly contested championship.

Eight rounds down. The 2026 season has crystallized into a three-way battle between Pajari’s resurgent form, Katsuta’s steady pressure, and the broader fight for podium consistency. Greece’s unforgiving stages have delivered their verdict—and the championship landscape has shifted accordingly.