Ivan Kolev

The most prestigious car race on the Balkans- rally Acropolis- is only a few days away. The rally is one of the oldest in the world, with the first race taking place in 1953. The macadam paving, the mountain-terrain slopes with multitude turns, high temperatures and suffocating dust, create a challenging event in the schedule of the world rally championship for pilots and vehicles.

In order to be able to cope with the severe mountain conditions, both the automobiles and the pilots and navigators need very good preparation. To be in a good shape is a major requirement in order to meet the physical challenges and high temperatures, often reaching beyond 50 degrees centigrade. After a fierce competition, the town of Loutraki was chosen by the organizers to host the launch of the rally. The competition will start on June 11, in front of the well-known Hotel Club Casino Loutraki.  

Right after the last-year round was completed, five districts has filed for hosts of the this-year rally-Ithea, Kamena Vurla, Lamia, Loutraki, and Halkida. As was expected, especially after ELPA’ s announcement couple of weeks before the nominations, Loutraki won as a host of the 56^th Rally Acropolis.

According to the organization committee, the decision was reached after the complex-factor environment that Loutraki provides was taken into consideration. Of a greatest importance was the town’s location- at approximately the same distance from Athens, Pirea and Patra. It is important to note that the local authorities, as well as the municipality governing body, with the mayor Georgios Gionis at the head, attended rally Spain in order to get acquainted with the atmosphere and the organization of a round of the World Rally Championship.

Quite impressive is the enthusiasm shown by the governing body in the municipality of Loutraki while handling the organization of a world-scale competition. In addition to the already existing infrastructure, specifically accommodated to meet the requirements of the competition, a ne service park was built, located only 600 meters away from Casino Loutraki. The … admirers of the rally will be happy to learn that the organizers have kept some of the well-known stages, such as Kefalari, Gymno, but have as well included new ones- Drosohori, Evangelistria, and Boksites.