Rally Greece – Back to basics for Yannick Panagiotis

Already wide in Croatia during their first experience in the World Cup (34^e on a Alpine A110, Editor's note) the smile of the two spouses was even more dazzling at the start of the 2^e stage of this 65^e edition of the test. “Everyone told me it was a beautiful rally And I am not disappointed, says the pilot with the backwards cap. I am the great-grandson of an immigrant, but I have never been to Greece. I only wanted to come there if I could run the test. Our visit is certainly done quickly, but I think we are passing through places where few tourists will go! We still took the opportunity to see Athens and go up to visit the Acropolis. As for researching my origins, I will have to come back. I probably still have family here! ".

At the wheel of a C3 Rally2 pampered by the FJ team of the Galpin clan in which even Jean, the boss, gets a hand in, “I still don’t take big initiatives” he explains with a smile on his face, the crew which comes from Gordes (84, Vaucluse) experienced an eventful first stage. “I didn't expect the stages to be so bad, explains the 44-year-old pilot. We've done a bit of dirt in France, but it's very different. Here, there are a lot of surface changes, the grip constantly varies, we move on small stones, large ones...and it's technically very interesting. The 2^es passages are sometimes completely destroyed. It's a trial! Even while trying to ride slowly and avoiding the biggest stones, we tore off a wheel, lost the rim and twisted the rear axle! This calmed us in our ardor! When it's rolling, we try to attack and when it's too rough I calm things down."

Loïc Rocci, in Greece