The Acropolis Rally has been held since 1951 by the Greek Motorsports Organization Automobile and Touring Club of Greece (ELPA), making it one of the longest-standing competitions in world rallying. In August 2020, rumours started to emerge about the possible return of the rally to the World Rally Championship. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis assured that the government was ready to support the organizers financially. In late December of the same year, the Hellenic Ministry of Sport agreed with the Organizing Committee for Motorsport to revive the Acropolis Rally. The rally officially returned for the 2021 World Rally Championship, taking place in September of the same year, with Lamia as the host city. Maintaining a place on the WRC calendar has presented challenges, requiring ongoing financial support and government backing to ensure the event’s continuation.
The Acropolis Rally started as a marathon/endurance type event in the early 1950s. When the rally became part of the World Rally Championship after 1973, crews faced up to 800 competitive kilometers, in some of the most gruelling stages imaginable. This involved locations all over Greece up to the late 1980s, such as Kalambaka and Meteora, stages near Mount Olympus, Attica, Central Greece, and the Peloponnese. The traditional start always took place under the Acropolis in Athens, and the finish ceremony was carried out in the Panathenaic stadium.
As rallies transitioned to “sprint” type events, the Acropolis Rally followed suit, basing the competition in certain areas and using stages nearby. The classic rally headquarters in the 1990s and early 2000s were the cities of Lamia and Itea. In 2005, the rally headquarters and service park moved to the Athens Olympic Sports Complex. In 2007, they moved to the Markopoulo Olympic Equestrian Centre. In 2008, the headquarters were situated at the Tatoi military airport, the last time the rally was based in Attica. In 2009 the rally headquarters and service park moved to Loutraki near the Corinth Canal, with stages in Argolis and Corinthia used for the rally. For the 2016 ERC Season, the event returned to Lamia. The 2026 edition will again be held in Loutraki.
The best stages in Greece are undoubtedly in the Phthiotis and Phokis regions, mainly around the Parnassus and Giona mountains. Recently used stages like Bauxites/Karoutes, Drosohori, Pavliani, Kaloskopi, Elatia, Rengini, Eleftherohori and Moschokarya are favorites amongst drivers and fans alike, due to their fast and flowing nature, allowing cars to reach their full potential. Stages like Kineta and Aghi Theodori around the Geraneia mountains in Corinthia, Prodromos, Livadeia and Thiva in Boeotia, and Parnonas in the Peloponnese are also well-known. Several stages feature significant archeological landmarks, such as the "Klenia-Mycenae" stage which includes the archeological site of Mycenae.
This special stage, originally called the Fourna and Rentina test, is an unusually difficult 30.3 km test. The name "Tarzan" originates from Giorgos Burgos, who was from Fourna in Evritania, lived in Athens and was a police officer. He suffered from tuberculosis and was given a few months to live, but he moved to Fourna and reached the age of 92. The Acropolis rally passed through Burgos’ hut from the 22nd edition of the rally in 1975. The stage first appeared under the new name "Tarzan" in the 26th Acropolis Rally in 1979, in honor of Giorgos Bourgos, a local resident and rally fan. The full stage was continuously used until the 42nd running of the event in 1995. For its last four years the route was renamed "Rentina-Tarzan".
In the Acropolis Rally of 2003, a shortened 20.65 km version of the stage, called "New Tarzan", was held twice, paying tribute to the route's legacy. Didier Auriol dismantled a wheelrim and his suspension there in June 1991, losing the lead and the overall victory, but later stated that "Tarzan" was his favorite Acropolis Rally special stage. The Tarzan stage returned in the 2021 Acropolis Rally, as the Power Stage of the event, alongside many other classic tests.
The Rally is also known for having used great Super Special Stages over the years. This trend started with the Marlboro Super Stage held in Anavissos, south of Athens, in the early 1990s. After the event base moved to Itea and Lamia in the early 2000s, a Super Special Stage was used in the outskirts of Lilea Parnassos. In 2005 a new stage was introduced; a superspecial stage held within the Athens Olympic Stadium. This stage was a highlight of the rally and awarded the Acropolis Rally the “Rally of the Year” title. In 2006 there were 2 superspecials, again in the same stadium. In 2007, the superspecial moved to the Markopoulo Olympic Equestrian Centre. In 2008 the super special stage was held twice at the Tatoi military airport. In 2018, a superspecial was based again in the Markopoulo Olympic Equestrian Centre. In the 2022 event, the rally returned to the Athens Olympic Stadium for the rally-opening super special stage.
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