The Rally Greece was first held in 1953, making it one of the WRC calendar's true classics. The roll of honour reads like a "who is who" of rallying: Walter Röhrl, Björn Waldegaard, Ari Vatenen, Stig Blomqvist, Juha Kankkunen, Colin McRae and Carlos Sainz, to name but a few, have all won here. And let's not forget the heroes of today's generation, Sébastien Loeb and Marcus Grönholm.
 
 For a number of years the rally was held near the historic Delphi, before the Acropolis Rally returned to its origins in Athens in 2007. The rally moved again in 2009: the rally base was relocated in the town of Loutraki, about 85 kilometres west of Athens and 120 kilometres away from the port of Patras.
 
 The Service Park, at which the presentation ceremony is held, is also located in Loutraki. However, the organisers of the "Acropolis Rally" have chosen a historic – and the most fitting – venue for the Ceremonial Start: the Acropolis in Athens. Despite the relocation of the Service Park, much remains unchanged. Parts of the route are identical to previous years. The Acropolis Rally has also retained its unique character: Greece is regarded as one of the toughest rallies on the WRC Calendar.
 
 A mixture of rugged, winding mountain stages, blistering heat and dry dust await the drivers. The cars must be especially robust in order to survive the surprisingly fast stages that are littered with rocks. The crews must also be physically fit to cope with the tough terrain in cockpit temperatures of over 50 degrees Celsius.
 
 Ensuring the engine and cockpit remain cool is also key in Greece, as the slow cornering speeds mean that relatively little natural cooling is possible. The suspension and undercarriage are also put to the test in the rocky terrain. And on top of all this, tyre wear can also pose a considerable problem. To win here, you must demonstrate not only pure speed, but also tactical prowess.