Spectacular innovation at the WRC in Greece: a floating parc fermé set to revolutionize logistics – details of the new Acropolis route
The Acropolis Rally Greece is undergoing a comprehensive redesign for 2026. The legendary gravel rally of the World Rally Championship (WRC) will have a new base and an extraordinary floating parc fermé for this year’s edition.
The organizers today unveiled the schedule for the eighth round of the season (June 25 to 28). The service park will move about 240 kilometers south. Instead of Lamia, the headquarters will be set up in Loutraki, about 80 kilometers east of the capital Athens.
As a result of this move, the rally now comprises 17 special stages in the regions of Attica, Peloponnese, and Central Greece. The route offers a mix of classics, returning stages, and completely new sections with a total length of over 320 kilometers.
Logistics innovation on the water
A special highlight of the event is an unusual transport solution. After the opening stage in Athens on Thursday evening, the teams will be loaded onto a ferry to Itea at the port of Corinth to prepare for Friday’s stage. The ship will serve as the official parc fermé, and the crews will have the opportunity to spend the night on board. The organizers hope that this method will save time and simplify logistics for the teams.
Friday features the “Bauxites” stage, which is popular with fans, before heading to Mount Parnassos, where the longest stage of the rally awaits. The first 19.28 kilometers correspond to part of the “Drosohori” stage, which was last driven in 2009, while the remaining 10.77 kilometers are completely new.
In addition, the “Ghymno” stage returns for the first time since 2013. A redesigned version of “Loutraki,” which is twice as long as before, will be driven twice on Sunday and will also serve as the final Power Stage.
Focus on tourism and sport
“The Acropolis Rally is an event with a strong international presence that highlights Greece as a destination for major sporting events,” explains Giannis Vroutsis, Greece’s Deputy Minister of Sport.
“This year’s design, with new special stages and innovative sea transport for the crews, takes advantage of our country’s unique characteristics and strengthens the connection between different regions through an event with global visibility. We continue to actively support an event that combines sport, technology, tourism, and Greek identity,” Vroutsis continues.
Numerous changes to the WRC calendar
The realignment in Greece is part of a series of changes to the current calendar. Earlier this month, Rally Finland announced significant adjustments, with the removal of the iconic “Ouninpohja” stage being the biggest surprise.
Rally Japan (May 28-31) announced new asphalt stages for 2026, while Rally Italy in Sardinia (October 1-4) is moving its base back to Alghero. This will be the last WRC event on the island for the time being, as the Italian World Championship round is set to take place around the capital Rome from 2027.
In addition, the Canary Islands Rally will hold a spectator stage at the Circuito Islas Canarias in April, where the legendary Race of Champions took place from 1992 to 2003.