WRC Greece: Local hero

Fancy testing your driving skills on the same roads as some of the world's best drivers? In the World Rally Championship, it's possible. You could start out as an aspiring young driver in lower categories like Junior WRC, following in the literal wheel tracks of the top drivers. Or, you could be what's affectionately known as a ‘gentleman driver' with the possibility to even drive alongside the very best in the top Rally1 category, more for fun than for big results.

Jourdan Serderidis is one such example of the latter. He flies the Greek flag on the stages but his rallying story started a long way away from the dusty gravel tracks of the legendary Acropolis Rally: in a Swedish sauna sitting next to nine-time world champion Sebastien Loeb.

Serderidis grew up in Belgium and created a successful IT company, which one January in 2012 organised a team-building trip to go ice-driving on a Swedish lake. Relaxing in the hotel sauna in the evening, he was joined by Loeb – whose Citroën team were preparing for the upcoming Rally Sweden. The two got chatting, and just a few months later Serderidis took part in his first ever rally in Belgium, aged 48.

Ten years later, Serderidis became team-mate to Loeb at the M-Sport Ford team and has continued to drive a third Puma Rally1 car on selected WRC rounds in 2023. He might not be worrying the likes of Kalle Rovanpera with his pace, but few drivers reach the end of a stage with a smile as wide as his.

Approaching his 60th birthday, Serderidis now plans to enter WRC retirement following his home event, the Acropolis. But expect him to remain an enthusiastic supporter of rallying and the next generation of drivers in particular – like Gregoire Munster, who took WRC2 victory in Japan in 2022 and will drive Serderidis' Puma Rally1 at the next round of the championship in Chile.