ATHENS, June 1 -- The EKO Acropolis Rally, the 64th edition of Greece's most distinguished motorsport event, started below the remains of the ancient Acropolis citadel in Athens on Friday.

The competition, round 3 of the European Rally Championship, began with a spectacular overturning, fortunately without injuries, when Peugeot 208 R2 of Russian Artur Muradian flipped in the stage.

It was the only inconvenience in the qualifying stage that opened the racing activity, seven kilometers east of Lamia city, 150 kilometers north of Athens.

Finland's JuusoNordgren was 0,021 seconds faster than Russian Alexey Lukyanuk to be first driver to choose his starting position for Saturday's stages.

Greek 2016 champion George Filippides withdrew before the start of the session for personal reasons.

Nicknamed "the Rally of Gods", Acropolis Rally of Greece is one of the toughest on the world rally circuit, since it takes place on the rough and rocky mountain roads around Athens during the hot summer period.

The EKO Rally Acropolis lasts until Sunday June 3 and has a total distance of 867.72 kilometres, of which 237.89 are racing and constitute the 12 Special Race Routes.

The last time a Greek driver won the Acropolis Rally was in 1995.

【体坛英语资讯：Greeces 2018 Acropolis Rally kicks off under Parthenon monument】相关文章：

★ 体坛英语资讯：Route of Beijing Olympic torch relay in Dar es Salaam confirmed

★ 体坛英语资讯：Drastic changes made in soccer team

★ 体坛英语资讯：Group rivals cannot meet again in final

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt expecting twins

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Winemakers say Paris Hilton unfit for Prosecco

★ 体坛英语资讯：No Yao? No problem for Rockets

★ 体坛资讯：Vietnam jails referees, officials in bribery scam

★ 体坛英语资讯：Gatlin hires Landis lawyer to fight ban

★ 体坛英语资讯：Germany edges into Euro 2008 final after defeating Turkey by 3-2

★ 娱乐英语资讯：K-Feds lawyer wants Spears to pay bill