Thierry Neuville claimed a dramatic Vodafone Rally de Portugal victory to revive his FIA World Rally Championship season and ship Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Group’s first win of 2026.
The 2024 world champion arrived at spherical six sitting solely seventh within the drivers’ standings after a troublesome opening sequence that included a final-stage crash while main Croatia Rally and no podiums from the primary 5 rounds. Hyundai, in the meantime, had watched Toyota win each rally to date this yr.
The 2024 world champion arrived at spherical six sitting solely seventh within the drivers’ standings after a troublesome opening sequence that included a final-stage crash while main Croatia Rally and no podiums from the primary 5 rounds. Hyundai, in the meantime, had watched Toyota win each rally to date this yr.
Portugal appeared set to proceed that sample till the penultimate stage, when Sébastien Ogier stopped to alter a right-rear broken tyre on Vieira do Minho 2. The Toyota Gazoo Racing driver had began Sunday with a 21.9s lead and was closing on a record-extending eighth Portugal win, however his victory hopes disappeared within the rutted, rock-strewn situations.
Neuville, who had stored himself within the battle all through a punishing weekend of rain, mud and continuously altering grip, moved into the lead with solely the Fafe Wolf Energy Stage remaining. He and co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe accomplished the ultimate check with out drama to win by 16.3s from Oliver Solberg.
It was Neuville’s twenty third WRC victory and his second in Portugal, eight years after his earlier success on the Matosinhos-based gravel basic. Extra importantly, it gave Hyundai the breakthrough it badly wanted after Toyota’s dominant begin to the season.
“It’s a really particular one,” mentioned Neuville. “After what occurred in Croatia and the struggles we now have had for some time, this one comes very effectively.
“Not just for me and Martijn, however for the entire group. We by no means surrender, and that paid this weekend. We had been all the time up there, all the time on a very good rhythm. Nothing was actually good, however we all the time in some way obtained by means of.”
Ogier, who plummeted to sixth, mentioned: “There are issues you possibly can’t management. Every part we may management this weekend, we did fairly effectively. It was arduous luck immediately. After all, we deserved a bit bit higher.”
Sami Pajari was additionally caught out on the identical stage. The Finn had been on the right track for a fifth consecutive podium, however stopped to hold out wheel change and dropped from third to seventh.
Solberg inherited second after a turbulent rally of his personal. The Swede led after Thursday, briefly reclaimed the lead on Saturday morning after which misplaced floor with tyre hassle and a spin. However he stayed shut sufficient to profit from Sunday’s drama and secured his first podium since profitable Rallye Monte-Carlo in January.
“It was an enormous ping-pong consequence all weekend,” Solberg mentioned. “After two robust Tarmac rallies, I’m simply very blissful to be again on the rostrum with some good factors. Relieved, actually.”
Championship chief Elfyn Evans accomplished the rostrum, 29.1s behind Neuville. The Welshman admitted he had not absolutely delivered the tempo he needed, however third place nonetheless strengthened his championship result in 12 factors over Takamoto Katsuta after six rounds.
Adrien Fourmaux completed fourth for Hyundai after a rally that promised way more. The Frenchman led earlier within the occasion earlier than a Friday off and ensuing double puncture dropped him down the order, however he ended with quickest time on the Energy Stage.
Katsuta accomplished the highest 5, forward of Ogier and Pajari, as Toyota’s final-day harm mounted. Dani Sordo introduced the third Hyundai dwelling in eighth after a troublesome weekend, with M-Sport Ford’s Mārtiņš Sesks ninth and FIA WRC2 winner Teemu Suninen finishing the highest 10.
Matteo Fontana received FIA WRC3 with Ali Türkkan celebrating back-to-back FIA Junior WRC victories.
The FIA WRC heads east for FORUM8 Rally Japan from 28-31 Could.
