The Acropolis Rally, the seventh round of the 2000 FIA World Rally Championship, has proved to be the most destructive event in recent memory. Just 48 of the original 117 starters and five of the 14 registered manufacturers’ cars reached the finish ramp on the scorching Adriatic harbour in Itea today, confirming the event’s status as Europe’s toughest test of man and machinery. However, in the highly competitive Group N production car category, Mitsubishi reigned supreme and took the top eight slots. In his first season outside Argentina, 20-year old Gabriel Pozzo took victory in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, beating Mitsubishi’s four-times Group N World Champion Gustavo Trelles.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Gr.N G. Pozzo / R. Ortiz

Britain’s Colin McRae took overall victory in Greece for the third time in his career. The Focus driver, who took the lead on stage 3, finished 23 seconds ahead of team-mate Carlos Sainz, giving Ford its first 1-2 since the Rally of Indonesia in 1997. In the Championship standings, Richard Burns still leads, despite retiring, but Colin McRae has leapt up into joint second position alongside Marcus Gronholm. World Rally Champion Tommi Makinen holds fourth with Carlos Sainz. In the World Championship for Manufacturers, Subaru lead Ford with Mitsubishi fourth overall.

Commenting on the Championship positions, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution driver Tommi Makinen said: "For sure it is better for us that Richard did not score points and Colin and Carlos did - now I think it is becoming very interesting. There are maybe five drivers fighting for position and it will make the rest of the season a big fight. We have some good events coming up where I know I drive well and the car is suited to the conditions, so I am optimistic about our chances."

Blue skies and soaring temperatures again greeted the crews as they headed north from the Adriatic resort of Itea for the concluding seven special stages. With only 55 of the original 117 contenders taking the re-start, today’s 141.89 competitive kilometres were by no means a formality and World series leader Richard Burns was the first victim of the day. The Briton, who held third position, had turbocharger problems in the first stage and was then simply unable to fire up the Subaru’s engine on the start line of stage 14.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Gr.N G. Trelles / J. del Buono

Comfortable with his position after team orders were issued to both he and Sainz, Colin McRae eased the pace today and, despite his Spanish team-mate driving at a competitive pace to maintain concentration, the pairing finished the rally in the positions in which they started this morning. Subaru driver Juha Kankkunen took third position on the podium while privateer and Team’s Cup entrant Toshihiro Arai finished a fine fourth in his Subaru Impreza. Armin Schwarz drove to the finish in fifth position with a comfortable lead over Toyota driver Abdullah Bakhashab. Francois Delecour, finishing 9th overall and last of the remaining manufacturers’ cars, picked up two points for Peugeot.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution and Carisma GT drivers crushed all opposition to take a clean sweep of the leading eight positions in Group N. Rising Argentine star Gabriel Pozzo won in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution scoring the greatest success of his career to date in only his fifth World Championship rally. He gained the Group N lead during the second leg of the rally and belied his youth and inexperience to maintain it to the finish. He stretched his lead over Trelles to clinch his first-ever Group N victory at World Championship level and Mitsubishi’s seventh in seven World Championship rallies this year.

"Everything has gone really well. The rally is very tough, just like I expected, but the car has been fantastic and we have had no problems at all. I am really pleased to take this win and it makes up for the disappointment of finishing second last month in front of my home crowd," said a delighted Pozzo.

Four times Group N World Champion Gustavo Trelles drove superbly in the final leg of the rally, making up ground after squashing the exhaust on the first stage, to maintain his challenge for a fifth successive world title in his Lancer Evolution.

Mitsubishi Carisma GT Gr.N M. Stohl / P. Muller

"It was maybe possible to beat Pozzo, but you would have to take some big risks and it was better to make sure of a finish. It is always good to finish this rally - it has been really hard this year," Trelles commented.

Behind Trelles, Austria’s Manfred Stohl made sure of third in the category in his Carisma GT, thereby preserving his lead in the World Championship as the series reaches the halfway mark.

Peru’s Ramon Ferreyros fought back after a frustrating start to take a well-earned fourth place in his Lancer Evolution. Germany’s Uwe Nittel, who was fifth in the category, suffered a cruel blow when he was forced to retire before the final stage. Incredibly, Mitsubishi took the top eight places in Group N, while four of the top six seeds in the class finished. It was a telling display of the speed and reliability of the Lancer Evolution and the Carisma GT.

In the World Cup for Drivers of Production Cars, Manfred Stohl has a three point lead over reigning World Champion Gustavo Trelles. Ten points in Greece moves Gabriel Pozzo up into third position with Miguel Campos fourth and Claudio Menzi fifth.

Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart T.Makinen and F.Loix took journalists for the ride of their life