THE HISTORY OF THE “24 HOURS GREECE” RALLY

In 1998 SISA, the Sports Car Owners Club of Greece, wrote history by organizing the first ever endurance rally .

The 1st “24 Hours Greece Rally” took place in Peloponnese and Central Greece on  11-12 April 1998.

The winners were:

  1. TH. CHARAGIONIS – A. DROULISKOS – 1956 PORSCHE 356
  2. K. APOSTOLIDIS – CH. APOSTOLIDIS – 1963 ALFA ROMEO 2600
  3. G. KOLOTOUROS – D. MPINIS – 1971 FIAT 500

In 1999 “24 Hours Greece” was moved to the fall and it stayed there. The “24 Hours Rally” gave its place to the “1st Classic Acropolis”.

The 2nd “24 Hours Greece Rally” took place in Evia and Central Greece on  16-17 October 1999.

The winners were:

  1. Ι. CHOLIS – Μ. FOURNARAKIS – 1970 FIAT 124 COUPE
  2. Κ. APOSTOLIDIS – CH. APOSTOLIDIS – 1963 ALFA ROMEO 2600
  3. L. ZEKAKOS – G. DRAKAKIS – 1973 LANCIA FULVIA COUPE

The 3rd “24 Hours Greece Rally” took place in Attica & Peloponnese on  14-15 October 2000.

The winners were:

  1. Ι. CHOLIS – Μ. FOURNARAKIS – 1970 FIAT 124 COUPE
  2. Κ. APOSTOLIDIS – CH. APOSTOLIDIS – 1963 ALFA ROMEO 2600
  3.  Ι. KATSAOUNIS – Α. DROULISKOS – 1973 PORSCHE 911S

The 4th “24 Hours Greece Rally” took place in Central Greece and Thessaly on  13-14 October 2001.

The winners were:

  1.  Ι. KATSOUNIS – Α. DROULISKOS – 1973 PORSCHE 911S
  2.  Α. PAPATHANOU – Ι. MPOURLEGKAS – 1967 BMW 1602
  3.  CH. SARANTOPOULOS – Α. ΤSEKERIS – 1968 DATSUN 510

The 5th”24 Hours Greece Rally” took place in Thessaly and Central Greece on  5-6 October 2002.

The winners were:

  1. Ν. ΚΟΝΤΟS – L. TARANTO – 1974 LANCIA FULVIA 1,3S
  2. V. PAPADOPOULOS – Ι. ΚΕΤSΕS – 1972 ALFA ROMEO BERLINA
  3. D. PAPANDREOU – G. KASOTAKIS – 1974 ALFA ROMEO GIULIA

The 6th “24 Hours Greece Rally” took place in Evia and Central Greece on  11-12 October 2003.

The winners were:

  1. G. ΚΙΚΙΖΑS – S. ΚΙΚΙΖΑS – 1973 FORD ESCORT RS
  2. D. RAZIS – Ε. CHRISTOPOULOS – 1971 DATSUN 510
  3. L. PAPAZOGLOU – V. GEROVASILIS – 1978 FIAT 131 RACING

The 7th “24 Hours Greece Rally” took place in Attica and Peloponnese on  18-19 September 2004.

The winners were:

  1. AL. PAPAZOGLOU – D. BOUNAZOS – 1978 FIAT 131 RACING
  2. D. PAPANDREOU – G. KASOTAKIS – 1974 ALFA ROMEO GIULIA
  3. D. RAZIS – Ε. CHRISTOPOULOS – 1971 DATSUN 510

The 8th “24 Hours Greece Rally” took place in Thessaly and Central Greece on  15-16 October 2005.

The winners were:

    1. G. LAGGAS – Ε. PAPANTONIOU – 1970 VW 1600
    2. D. PAPANDREOU – G. KASOTAKHS – 1974 ALFA ROMEO GIULIA
    3. L. PAPAZOGLOU – D. BOUNAZOS – 1978 FIAT 131 RACING

The 9th “24 Hours Greece Rally” took place in Thessaly and Central Greece on  7-8 October 2006.

The winners were:

  1. V. GEROVASILIS – Ι. GEROVASILIS – 1979 LANCIA BETA COUPE
  2. S. KANAS – Μ. GEMISTOS – 1974 FIAT 124 COUPE
  3. Α. STRIGGARIS – Σ. STRIGGARIS – 1957 VW 1200

In 2007 the “24 Hours Rally” celebrated its 10th birthday. The 10th “24 Hours Greece Rally” took place in Attica, Corinthia, Argolis and Viotia on  3-4 November 2007.

The winners were:

  1. V. GEROVASILIS – Ι. GEROVASILIS – 1979 LANCIA BETA COUPE
  2. Α. PAPANDREOU – Α. CHAIMALAS – 1977 OPEL MANTA
  3. Α. NTOULIAS – L. NTOULIAS – 1975 TOYOTA COROLLA

The 11th “24 Hours Greece Rally” took place in Attica, Viotia, Corinthia & Argolis on  11-12 October 2008.

The winners were:

  1. V. GEROVASILIS – Ι. GEROVASILIS – 1979 LANCIA BETA COUPE
  2. Α. NTOULIAS – L. NTOULIAS – 1975 TOYOTA COROLLA
  3. D. PAPANDREOU – G. KASOTAKIS – 1974 ALFA ROMEO GIULIA

2009 was a milestone year for this unique endurance rally. Legendary and demanding special stages were introduced, which had to be performed with ideal time’s accuracy of a second. The changes of 2009 brought the 24 Hours Rally very close to its present form.

The 12th “24 Hours Greece” rally took place in Central Greece on 31 October – 1 November 2009.

The winners were:

  1. Ι. KATSAOUNIS – Γ. KATSAOUNIS – 1973 PORSCHE 911S
  2. G. ANTONOVARDAKIS – Κ. ARGYRIOU – 1978 CHRYSLER SUNBEAM
  3. Ι. THEOS – S. KONTOFRIDIS – 1973 ALFA ROMEO GIULIA

The 13th “24 Hours Greece” rally took place in Central Greece & Thessaly on 30-31 October 2010.

The winners were:

  1. Ι. KATSAOUNIS – Μ. MANSOLAS – 1973 PORSCHE 911S
  2. D. PAPANDREOU – G. PAPANDREOU – 1974 ALFA ROMEO GIULIA
  3. Ε. RINAKIS – Μ. ALEVIZOU – 1978 MAZDA STC

The 14th “24 Hours Greece” rally took place in Central Greece & Thessaly on 22-23 October 2011.

The winners were:

  1. Ι. KATSAOUNIS – Μ. MANSOLAS – 1973 PORSCHE 911S
  2. Ο. TSAGGARIS – S. ZALMAS – 1976 PORSCHE 911
  3. E. STAMATOPOULOS – G. STEFIS – 1983 PEUGEOT 205 GT

The 15th “24 Hours Greece” rally took place in Central Greece on 13-14 October 2012.

The winners were:

  1. Ι. KATSAOUNIS – Μ. MANSOLAS – 1973 PORSCHE 911S
  2. V. BENTAS – Κ. GEORGAKAS – 1968 FORD ESCORT
  3. Ν. TSADARIS – G. PETROPOULOS – 1973 PORSCHE 911

The 16th “24 Hours Greece” rally took place in Peloponnese on 12-13 October 2013.

The winners were:

  1. CH. OIKONOMOU – Κ. FILANDRAS – 1982 VW GOLF
  2. D. KARPATSELIS – G. PAPAMICHALOPOULOS – 1976 FORD ESCORT MKII
  3. V. BENTAS – K. GEORGAKAS – 1968 FORD ESCORT

The 17th “24 Hours Greece” rally took place in Peloponnese & Central Greece on 18-19 October 2014.

Carrera Optics was the title sponsor.

The winners were:

  1. V. BENTAS – Κ. GEORGAKAS – 1980 MERCEDES 200
  2. Α. PAPANDREOU – G. KARKATSOULIS– 1983 HONDA CIVIC
  3. P. PAPADOPOULOS – Ν. ASONITIS – 1976 BL MINI

The 18th “24 Hours Greece” rally took place in the Peloponnese on 17-18 October 2015.

The winners were:

  1. Ι. KATSAOUNIS – Μ. MANSOLAS – 1979 VW GOLF GTi
  2. Κ. CHORIANOPOULOS – A. DI MAGGIO – 1984 PORSCHE 944
  3. V. BENTAS– Κ. KOFINAS – 1971 BMW 2002

The 19th “24 Hours Greece” rally took place in Evia, Viotia & Attica on 15-16 October 2016.

The winners were:

  1. V. BENTAS – Κ. GEORGAKAS – 1968 FORD ESCORT
  2. D. RIZOPOULOS – Α. PAPANDREOU – 1983 TOYOTA STARLET
  3. D. TRIKARDOS – CH. CHATZIS – 1983 PORSCHE 944

In 2017 the “24 Hours Greece” Rally celebrated its 20th anniversary. Together with its 20th birthday a 2nd major improvement was introduced. Wireless time keeping with 1/10th of a second precision!

The price giving ceremony was held for the first time at the Hellenic Motor Museum with all formalities. History was being written for one more time!

The 20th “24 Hours Greece” rally took place in Peloponnese & Central Greece on 21-22 October 2017.

The winners were:

  1. D. TRIKARDOS – CH. CHATZIS – 1983 PORSCHE 944
  2. V. BENTAS – Κ. GEORGAKAS – 1968 FORD ESCORT
  3. D. RIZOPOULOS – A. PAPANDREOU – 1983 TOYOTA STARLET

In 2018 the 3rd major change was introduced. Multiple time measurements on specific check points.

For the first time the “24 Hours Rally” had more than 100 participants!

The 21st “24 Hours Greece” rally took place in Central Greece & Peloponnese on 20-21 October 2018.

The winners were:

  1. D. RIZOPOULOS – Α. PAPANDREOU – 1983 TOYOTA STARLET
  2. Ι. KATSAOUNIS – Μ. MANSOLAS – 1979 VW GOLF GTi
  3. G. LAGGAS – Ε. MALTEZOU – 1986 ALFA ROMEO 75

The 22nd “24 Hours Greece” rally took place in Central Greece & Thessaly on 19-20 October 2019.

For the first time in its history, this rally was won by a foreign crew!

The winners were:

  1. CH. CRUCIFIX – J. HUGO – 1985 PORCHE 911
  2. N. ARVANITIS – I. CHARALAMPAKI – 1972 LANCIA FULVIA 1.3S COUPE
  3. G. VAXEVANIDIS – I. VAXEVANIDIS – 1988 VW GOLF II

A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE “24 HOURS GREECE” RALLY

The “24 Hours Greece” Endurance Regularity Rally is addressed to well prepared historic car crews, who want to experience a 24 hours adventure on legendary routes of Greece.

All certified historic vehicles older than 30 years are eligible, as well as “20-29 year old “youngtimers”. No competition license is required, however a valid driver’s license, car’s insurance and road side assistance are mandatory!

The duration of the rally form start till finish is 24 hours, with 2 one-hour stops and 1 main 3-hour regroup in between. The requested rally distance is 800 kilometers, while there is also a 400 km 12 Hours Trophy, for those who don’t want to overestimate their abilities but wish to to get a good taste of this legendary rally.

The rally is being help according to FIVA rules, on open to traffic public roads. Participants compete on approximately 20 selected special stages, with 50-60 time measurements (check points) and 50 km/h maximum average speed.

No sophisticated navigation equipment is required for executing the special stages. All check points are marked on the road book and the ideal time is being given in advance. A good odometer and 1 or 2 chronometers are sufficient. All distance measuring, time keeping and navigation equipment are free to use!