How brutal heat on WRC drivers cooked at Acropolis rally

The Acropolis rally Greece at one time gave a reminder as to why the employees and teams of the World Rally Championship are considered among the aristocratic class after completing one of the most difficult days in motorsports.

The WRC was probably thanked for a punished mixture for its most physically demanded testing of the season, for a punished mixture for the thicker stages of the WRC, which combines with a sapping temperature of tireless energy spread over a 14 -hour day on the road.

From September, on the date of its traditional June from September, the incident was further intensified by the heat and steps, as the teams and drivers quickly realize.

Extreme conditions are one of the attractive features of the DNA and championship of the WRC. The fact is that its drivers and teams are able to cope into such scenarios, so they are conducted in a high relationship by the Motorsport World.

Friday was a true test of teams and their machines as they had targeted to complete about 500 kilometers (~ 300 mi), the first phase began at 7:28 am – and the last started at 7:31 pm. The temperature of 70 ° C (158 ° F) was translated into the overall temperature in high 30 ° C (100 ° F) of 30 ° C (100 ° F).

Fastest existence

Even being hydrated proved to be a challenge. Three lights in the crew car can carry up to water, in addition to the water in the midday remote service and the end of other refreshments.

The day tested physical and mental fitness to the border during the stages – and when the stages were over, there was very little relief. According to the crew, the effect of soaking heat inside the cars during traversing road classes was even more energy.

Toyota said, “It is very hot and super tired that is driving the car, but we managed it.” Sebastian ogier, Who ended on Friday, third, 16.9S rally as leader Oat Tanak,

“We tried to cool down every time, and every minute we tried to stay on a road section under the trees. Even on the road sections you feel that you have a hair dryer all day. I am really hoping that the next day should be cooler, which should be low degrees in the mountains and we will be happy and I think we will be happy.

“It was fine, and I didn’t think my concentration was falling, but I would like to know how many liters of water we drank today. I had a very bad headache before the previous phase, but fortunately in a regime I took some medicine to help me for the previous one.”

Hyundai Thierry neurville He revealed that he completed the day without eating any food in the afternoon remote service, where the crew was busy working on his cars in the sun blazing the sun for the afternoon steps.

“Honestly, it was difficult that I was thirsty in all ways and did not have enough fluids,” Newville told Motorsport.com after finishing eighth on Friday.

“When we had two punctures and you are pushing and things do not go in your way it is super disappointing. I did not feel well in the car and everything came together, despair, disappointment, no food and limited fluids.”

A challenge for teams

Hyundai Motorsport boss Cyril Abytbol not only paid tribute to the drivers and co-operatives, but also for all the members of the WRC teams in the conditions.

“This is hard for all and I would like to talk about all fields, mechanics, engineers,” Abytbol told Motorsport.com.

“It has been a very long day, and some of them were already in a distance service at 4:15 am to secure a good position because it is very demanding and you need to secure your own location. It is like going to the beach, and you want to save a place with your towel.

“They have been most days of the day in the sun, it has been very difficult for them. We need to give them a huge credit. I cannot say that we need to do things differently, because I can’t see how we can do. It is important that we reflect the effort as a community that goes inside.”

In addition to dealing with intense heat, the drivers were on high warnings to navigate through steps without killing any rocks that could induce the puncture of terminal damage to cars.

WRC2 class leader Oliver solberg Was among some people to complete the day without any issue, which is only their third beginning in the incident.

Solberg said, “I needed fate a little and my eyes were very open. It’s not a rally where you can push so I stepped into speed to see all rocks, it’s not easy.”

“The difficult part is that the phase is new to me, so I need to focus so much on speed notes looking at the road and looking for rocks. Today it was difficult.”

The good news for the WRC crew is that the temperature is determined to fall to 34 degrees on Saturday, while there is a thunderstorm at risk.