Acropolis Rally 1990

The Acropolis Rally is one of the oldest and, almost certainly, the toughest. Nowhere else in the series do you find such rough roads - with huge rocks laying in wait to rip tyres to shreds or shatter suspension systems. With this nightmarish scenario to set the scene, round 5 of the World Rally Championship series got off to a flying start - with one of the best fields in the series so far.

The line-up at the start read like a who's who in the rally world and included such noted protagonists as speedy Spaniard Carlos Sainz and Mikael Ericcson (Toyota Celicas), Flying Froggie Didier Auriol, Juha Kankkunen, Miki Biasion and Alex Fiorio (Lancia Delta Integrales), Ari Vatanen (Mitsubishi Galant) and Markku Alen lurking menacingly in the background in the threatening newcomer, the Subaru Legacy R).

As was expected the event developed into a no-holds-barred battle for supremacy between the old rivals Lancia, Toyota and Mitsubishi with the Subaru teams hoping to wipe the floor with all of them. The relative newcomer from Japan is noted for its speed and ability to tackle all road conditions. Could this be its big moment?