The penultimate round of the European Rally Championship marks an important chapter in the series this weekend, as it’s here on the legendary Acropolis Rally that the titles could be decided. The event is well known for being a challenge for both drivers and tyres, emphasised in its latest incarnation by including asphalt roads as well as the traditional gravel.

Currently there are two Pirelli drivers in the top three of the championship classification: the Ford Fiesta R5 of championship leader Kajetan Kajetanowicz, and Russian driver Alexey Lukyanuk. Kajetanowicz has the possibility to wrap up the European title for Pirelli with one round to go, having already claimed the ERC Ice Masters and ERC Gravel Masters title. So far, the Pole has won 42 out of a possible 99 stages on every type of surface, using Pirelli tyres.

Lukyanuk has a more remote chance of winning the title, but the Rally Estonia winner – who was also awarded the ERC Colin McRae Flat Out Trophy in Cyprus – is aiming for second place in the end-of-year standings.

A number of other drivers will also be aiming for victory on Pirelli tyres, such as Greek driver Lambros Athanassoulas, making his debut in the Motorsport Italia Skoda Fabia R5, and Robert Consani driving a Citroen DS3 R5 run by Delta Racing.

The Pirelli drivers will use the medium compound Pirelli Scorpion K4 Reinforced and the Pirelli Scorpion XR5: capable of tackling the varied demands of the Acropolis Rally.

Pirelli’s product manager Terenzio Testoni commented: “Bearing in mind the road conditions and the expected dry weather, the Pirelli Scorpion K4 Reinforced are the preferred choice for stages that are mainly gravel rather than asphalt, especially during the first run through the stages. The tread pattern of the K4 ensures particularly effective grip on loose gravel. The XR5 however is best for stages that are mainly asphalt, and for the second run through the stages. It has a unique design that guarantees maximum stability on hard and rocky surfaces, even on asphalt.”