Acropolis Rally

The abrasive mountain roads of Greece are hard on tyres, though both the Escort of winners Vatanen and Richards (above) and the Fiat 131 of second-placed men Alen and Kivimaki (below) are pictured here puncture free.

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As always, the Datsuns were reliable, though one of the trio did retire. Shekhar Mehta, who made fifth place partnered by his wife Yvonne in an 8-valve Violet, is pictured above dusting a knot of spectators, but other makes were not as fortunate. Both brand-new Mitsubishi Turbo Lancers went out when engine heat destroyed the alternator of Cowan’s car and fuel pipework of Kullang’s (below left). The Audi Quattros were fast and surefooted, and Mikkola (below right) survived a broken rear differential and a nasty fuel spillage fire to keep his lead, only to be disqualified on a technicality and denied the right to continue despite the lodging of an appeal.