1.
GV ZOOM IN TO SV Acropolis & GV Flags of nations at rally starting point (2 shots)
0.13

2.
CU H. Kallstrom
0.14

3.
MCU Ove Andersson (dark glasses)
0.21

4.
CU Hakan Lindberg
0.24

5.
CU Rauno Altonen (full face) talks to navigator PAN DOWN TO name on car
0.32

6.
MV Finance Minister Ioannis Koulis flags off car No. I driven by Therier (Alpine Renault) ZOOM IN TO SCU crowd
0.43

7.
MV Car No. 2 driven by A. Warmbold (BMW 2002 TI) away.
0.51

8.
CU Spectator takes photograph
0.53

9.
MV Car No. 3 away driven by Lindbeg (Fiat 124)
1.00

10.
CU Car No. 5 away driven by Nicolas (Alpine Renault)
1.09

11.
CU Car No. 6 away driven by B. Waldegard (BMW 2002 TI)
1.20

12.
CU Spectators
1.22

13.
MV Car No. 12 driven by R. Aaltonen (Fiat Abarth 124) away
1.36

14.
MV Car No. 16 driven by W. Sparrow (Ford Escort) away
1.47



Initials BB/2251



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The 21st Acropolis Rally got under way in Athens on Wednesday (23 May) with 82 entrants. Forty-six foreign drivers were among those who set out on the 28-hundred kilometre (1,740-mile) route, which started under the Parthenon on Athens' famed Acropolis.

As the Rally entered its second day, there were 54 cars still in the race.

Jean-Luc Therier and Christian Delferrier who are among the favourites led on Thursday (24 May) in an Alpino Renault. They were followed by Britain's Tony Fall and Mike Wood, in a Volkswagen-1303. Among those to abandon the rally after the first day were Sweden's Ove Andersson, driving a Toyota Celica, and H. Kallstrom also of Sweden, driving a Volkswagen-1303.

The rally ends on Saturday (26 May) at noon at the foot of the Acropolis Hills. the route the drivers will have followed covers 1600 kilometres of highway (about 1,000-miles) and 1200-kilometres of rough roads (about 750-miles). The prizes will be distributed on Sunday.

SYNOPSIS: Eighty-two entries lined up on the Acropolis in Athens on Wednesday for the start of the 21st Acropolis Rally. There were 46 foreign drivers among the entrants for the three-day event.

H. Kallstrom of Sweden was among the famous faces at the start, which included Ove Andersson driving a Toyota-Celica, Hakan lindberg in a Fiat 124 Arbath, and Rauno Aaltonen, also with a Fiat 124 Arbath. Andersson and Kallstrom were early casualties of the rally.

Finance-Minister Ioannis Koulis flagged off the first car to get the Rally started. It was driven by Jean-Luc Therier, who's among the favourites to win.

The rest of the entrants drove away in fairly quick succession, led by a BMW 2002 driven by A. Warabold.

Spectators were busy with cameras to watch the start of the Rally, which covers 1740 miles, and is described as one of Europe's toughest. It includes approximately 1,000 miles of highway, and 750 miles of rough and rocky roads.

By the start of the second day, 54 cars remained int eh field. The lead at that stage was held by Jean-Luc Therier, in an Alpine Renault. They were followed by Britain's Tony Fall and Mike Wood, driving a Volkswagen 1303 S. with Italy's team of D. Paganelli and D. Russo close behind. Cars entered in the Rally represent a good cross-section of European and Japanese makes, with a scattering of American cars. The rally is due to finish at about noon on Saturday, at the foot of the Acropolis.