The Acropolis Rally, which is returning to the WRC calendar in 2011, will become a fully professional event, organised by Celeritas, a company set up by former driver Aris Vovos, but will once again be based at Loutraki.
A press conference in Athens heard that the 57th version of the race, starting on June 16 in Athens and concluding three days later at Loutraki, will have more organised promotion through Fairplay Sports Marketing.
Organisers are also in negotiations with TV stations to ensure coverage, with state broadcaster ERT the favourite at this stage.
“Our aim is not to make money. This is a risk we are taking, but it also a dream to see the Acropolis back on top of the World Rally Championship,” Vovos stated.
The Papandreou government has agreed to offer the event greater support, taking steps to offer it official support.
Deputy Culture and Tourism Minister Yiorgos Nikitiadis said the Acropolis Rally will be placed under the ministry’s auspices and underlined its role in promoting Greek tourism due to the international interest it attracts.
Speaking in a press conference, Nikitiadis stated that the culture and tourism ministry will support the endeavour in the future and stressed that the rally, which was cancelled this year, will have positive results for Greek tourism being part of the “Greece every week” tourism promotion programme.
The Acropolis Rally has been held for 51 years by the Greek motorsports organisation Automobile and Touring Club of Greece (ELPA), making it one of the longest-standing in world rallying.
However it did not take place in 2010 because of the financial crisis in Greece.
