20-year-old Mille Johansson from Katrineholm and co-driver Johan Grönvall from Arvika are heading to Greece this weekend for the third round of the FIA Junior World Rally Championship. The event, known for being the toughest of the season, will be contested over 17 stages in scorching summer heat and over rough and rocky mountain roads.
Mille and Johan are entering the rally tied for the championship lead with Australian driver Taylor Gill, despite both of their first two rallies being marked by various issues. Johansson’s impressive speed, with a total of 25 stage wins, has been key in keeping him at the top of the standings.
– I see it as a fight between me and Taylor Gill. Our strategy is to finish ahead of him – whether that means winning the rally or finishing fifth. We’ve had some bad luck in the first two events, but we’re still sharing the championship lead, which keeps the hope alive, says Mille Johansson.
The Acropolis Rally is a true test of endurance and strategy. Known for its extreme heat and punishing roads, it’s often more about survival than outright speed.
– It’s one of the toughest events on the WRC calendar, with very rocky roads and high temperatures. If you can avoid punctures and mechanical issues, you have a great chance of finishing high up the order, Mille continues.
The rally begins on Thursday evening with a spectator stage in Lamia, followed by six stages on Friday, six more on Saturday, and a final four on Sunday. Nine Junior WRC crews are entered in Greece, all competing in identical four-wheel drive Ford Fiesta Rally3 cars prepared by M-Sport Poland.
– I try not to think too much about the championship. There’s still a long way to go, and we need to keep full focus from start to finish as always, says co-driver Johan Grönvall.
– It’s going to be tough. You can’t push too hard because the roads are really demanding on both the car and tyres. The goal is to get through the rally and score as many points as possible, he adds.
– We want to finish this extreme rally and score solid points – but of course, we’d like to leave Greece as championship leaders, Mille concludes.