Sebastien Ogier will take a lead of 10.5s into Acropolis Rally’s event-closing Power Stage after posting a time 4.4s faster than team-mate Sebastien Loeb through the repeat of the 11.37-kilometre New Pissia test.
Third-placed Mikko Hirvonen compounded Loeb’s anguish by narrowing the gap to his world championship title rival to a slender 2.6s by going quicker than both Citroen DS3 WRC drivers in his Ford Fiesta RS WRC. However, the Finn’s gap to Ogier in the overall classification is 13.1s with just four kilometres of stage action remaining.
Hirvonen’s Ford team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala was quickest through the stage, his third fastest time of the day. The 26-year-old was 0.2s faster than his countryman.
The New Loutraki Power Stage goes live at 14:11hrs local time. It will be shown live on television throughout the world.
Standings after SS17:
| Pos. | Driver | Car | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | S. OGIER / J. INGRASSIA | Citroën DS3 WRC | 4h02m21.6s |
| 02 | S. LOEB / D. ELENA | Citroën DS3 WRC | +10.5s |
| 03 | M. HIRVONEN / J. LEHTINEN | Ford Fiesta RS WRC | +13.1s |
| 04 | P. SOLBERG / C. PATTERSSON | Citroën DS3 WRC | +37.5s |
| 05 | H. SOLBERG / I. MINOR | Ford Fiesta RS WRC | +5m21.3s |
| 06 | M. WILSON / S. MARTIN | Ford Fiesta RS WRC | +6m49.1s |
| 07 | K. RAIKKONEN / K. LINDSTRÖM | Citroën DS3 WRC | +8m26.0s |
| 08 | J. HANNINEN / M. MARKKULA | Skoda Fabia S2000 | +11m24.2s |
| 09 | J. LATVALA / M. ANTTILA | Ford Fiesta RS WRC | +13m06.4s |
| 10 | D. KUIPERS / F. MICLOTTE | Ford Fiesta RS WRC | +15m00.3s |
| 11 | B. SOUSA / A. COSTA | Ford Fiesta S2000 | +16m14.5s |
| 12 | M. ØSTBERG / J. ANDERSSON | Ford Fiesta RS WRC | +17m13.7s |
| 13 | F. TURÁN / G. ZSIROS | Ford Fiesta S2000 | +17m36.6s |
| 14 | H. GASSNER JR / K. WUSTENHAGEN | Skoda Fabia S2000 | +18m28.6s |
| 15 | M. PROKOP / J. TOMÁNEK | Ford Fiesta S2000 | +20m23.1s |