They don’t call it the Rally of Gods for nothing. The EKO Acropolis Rally is one of the most brutal tests in the World Rally Championship, and in 2025 it proved once again why it has earned its legendary status. With scorching heat, tyre-shredding rocks, and mountainous stages north of Athens, it pushed competitors to the edge.
But for Aussie rising star Taylor Gill, it was a rally that tested his patience, precision, and perseverance, and he walked away with a career-defining second place in the Junior WRC category.
This wasn’t a cruise to the podium. Gill and co-driver Dan Brkic were seventh after Stage 5, more than two minutes behind the leader. What followed was one of the grittiest comebacks of the season, a calculated charge through the second half of the rally, where they claimed four stage wins and clawed their way back up the leaderboard to claim a hard-earned P2.
“It was certainly not a plain sailing weekend and we had our share of both good luck and bad luck,” Gill said. “But I think we picked good moments to play it smart. Even after losing multiple minutes, we knew the game was still open and in Greece it’s never over until the final control, so in the end I’m really pleased with how the weekend ended up. The outcome for the championship is positive.”
The Acropolis is a rally that takes no prisoners! First held in 1973 as one of the original rounds of the WRC, the Acropolis Rally has a fearsome reputation. After an eight-year hiatus, it returned to the calendar in 2021 and immediately re-established itself as one of the sport’s most demanding events. Based out of Lamia, the rally kicks off with a ceremonial start beneath the ancient Acropolis monument in Athens before diving headfirst into some of the roughest roads in Europe, including icons like Tarzan and Elatia.
“It’s one of the hardest events I’ve ever done without a doubt,” said Brkic. “It’s so difficult to find a rhythm when the environment and conditions are changing constantly. We spent much more time driving at 80 percent than 100 percent, so it takes a bit of a shift in mindset.”
By the end of Stage 5, Gill and Brkic were sitting seventh overall in the Junior WRC standings, trailing the leader, Ali Türkkan, by over two minutes. Türkkan had dominated the early stages, going five from five to open the rally with commanding pace. But Acropolis doesn’t play favourites, and Gill’s strategy was to stay in the game and attack when it mattered most.
Once the crew found their rhythm, they began to light up the timing sheets. Their comeback kicked off with a win in SS8 (Pavliani 1) and they kept the pressure on from there winning SS9 (Karoutes), SS10 (Inohori) and SS15 (Tarzan 1).
By the rally’s final leg, they had stormed into second place, holding off the likes of Diego Domínguez and Mille Johansson, and narrowing the gap to Türkkan to under six minutes, a stunning turnaround in such harsh conditions.
Top 5 – Junior WRC Results (Acropolis Rally 2025)
1. Ali Türkkan / Oytun Albayrak – 4:39:31.7
2. Taylor Gill / Dan Brkic – 4:45:23.1 (+5:51.4)
3. Diego Domínguez / Rogelio Peñate – 4:45:48.8 (+6:17.1)
4. Kerem Kazaz / Corentin Silvestre – 4:49:53.5 (+10:21.8)
5. Eamonn Kelly / Conor Mohan – 4:59:42.2 (+20:10.5)
The result has significant Championship implications! The result not only shows Gill’s grit but also shifts the landscape of the 2025 Junior WRC title race. With two rounds to go, the Aussies now lead the championship, thanks to consistent results across the first three rallies.
The top 5 Junior WRC Standings (after Acropolis Rally) see Gill with a 7-point advantage:
1. Taylor Gill – 78 pts
2. Mille Johansson – 71 pts
3. Ali Türkkan – 47 pts
4. Kerem Kazaz – 38 pts
5. Eamonn Kelly – 32 pts
It’s a tightly packed leaderboard, and with high-speed tarmac and technical gravel rallies to come in Finland and Central Europe, Gill and Brkic know the real work is only just beginning.
But there’s no rest for the team with the next stop being the Rally di Roma Capitale. Barely a day after finishing in Greece, Gill was back behind the wheel this time switching from rock-strewn gravel to fast-flowing Italian tarmac at Rally di Roma Capitale, part of the FIA European Rally Championship.
“Straight back at it in Rome today testing for this weekend,” he posted on social media. “Nice to get the feeling back on tarmac after over 12 months off. Looking forward to a competitive and enjoyable weekend ahead.”
He also took a moment to acknowledge the support behind the scenes.
“It’s great to represent all of our loyal sponsors at an international level, and a pleasure to welcome WOLF (WorkingOnLineFacility) on the car this weekend. Tom Clarke and the team are building an incredible platform, making entry procedures, registration, volunteer management and team coordination all the more easier.”
Looking Ahead, Gill and Brkic are heading from the rocky mountains of Greece to the city streets of Rome. So it’s a whirlwind calendar for the young Aussies, but their calm approach, growing experience, and raw pace are making an impression on the global stage.
“It will be nice now to head to some proper drivers rallies in Finland and Central Europe where we’ll continue our push for the championship” Brkic concluded.
Whether it’s a smart salvage job or an all-out stage-winning charge, Taylor Gill and Daniel Brkic are proving that they belong at the sharp end of international rallying.
And if the second half of the Acropolis Rally is any indication, there’s a lot more to come.
