Pirelli, Burns & Subaru stay in command

Richard Burns, Subaru and Pirelli continue to lead the World Rally Championship after a dramatic Acropolis Rally saw the title hopes of many drivers take a pounding from the Greek roads and few escaped without problems. After three dominant wins already this year and with an unbroken finishing record on all events, Subaru-Pirelli's championship lead is intact after Juha Kankkunen's 3rd place in Greece.

Equally, Burns was already 14 points ahead in the Drivers' series and, despite the disappointment of having to retire (turbo failure) from the event today, is still far enough ahead that he will still lead the championship even after next month's New Zealand Rally where Burns is again expected to start as favourite for victory.

During the event the Pirelli-equipped Subaru and SEAT teams used the full range of PZero tyres in both XR and K pattern and in the very latest evolution. On the rocky roads the drivers were able to rely completely on the performance of the EMI anti-deflation system.

Pirelli again dominated the GroupN podium with Gabriele Pozzo winning from Gustavo Trelles and Manfred Stohl (all Mitsubishi-Pirelli).

FINAL STANDINGS (19 SSs totally):

1. McRae-Ringer (Ford), 4h56m54.8; 2. Sainz (Ford) +23.1; 3. Kankkunen (Subaru-Pirelli) + 7m40.8; 4. Arai (Subaru-Pirelli) +7.47.9; 5. Schwarz (Skoda) +9m11.0; 6. Backhashab (Toyota) +12m54.9; 7. Richelmi (Subaru-Pirelli) +13m33.3

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS (after 7 events)

Drivers:
1. Burns pt.38; 2. Gronholm and McRae 24; 4. Makinen and Sainz 23; 6. Kankkunen 18; 7. Auriol, Loix, Solberg e Arai 4; . . .Manufacturers: 1. Subaru-Pirelli pt.58; 2. Ford 47; 3. Peugeot 31; 4. Mitsubishi 29; 5. Skoda 8; 6. SEAT-Pirelli 7; 7. Hyundai 1GrouoN: 1. Stohl pt.31; 2. Trelles 28; 3. Pozzo 16; 4. Campos 13; 5. Menzi 12.

Next World Championship event: New Zealand (gravel), 13-16 July

Itea (Greece), June 11, 2000