Sat Sep 07 11:53:43 UTC 2024: ## Neuville Takes Acropolis Rally Lead as Sordo Suffers Tyre Failure

**Athens, Greece:** Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville has taken the lead in the Acropolis Rally after teammate Dani Sordo suffered a tyre failure during the afternoon stages. Sordo had briefly held the lead after overnight leader Ott Tanak experienced two punctures.

Sordo’s i20 N lost its right rear tyre after hitting a rock on stage nine, causing damage to the car’s bodywork and allowing dust into the cabin. Despite continuing on three tyres, Sordo lost 51.3 seconds, handing Neuville the lead.

“My goals are very simple, get through the day without a problem, especially without a puncture,” said Neuville, who is currently 1m21.5s ahead of second-placed Sebastien Ogier.

Ogier, who won stage nine, believes the gap to Neuville is too large to recover, saying, “The gaps are too big! We keep doing our job as best as we can, we’ll see.”

Tanak managed to maintain fourth overall despite facing a “rough” test. Meanwhile, Gregor Munster, who was in fifth place, went off the road and became stuck in a ditch, handing fifth to WRC2 leader Sami Pajari.

The crews will face two more stages today before a super special stage near Athens tonight.

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