The FIA World Rally Championship heads into one of its most iconic events this week as Vodafone Rally de Portugal delivers the first European gravel challenge of the 2026 season.
With loose sandy roads, punishing second passes and legendary stages including Arganil, Amarante and Fafe, Portugal is widely regarded as one of the toughest and most demanding rallies on the WRC calendar. For the championship leaders, it could also become one of the most decisive moments of the season so far.
Toyota Gazoo Racing arrives with momentum after dominating the opening rounds. Elfyn Evans, Takamoto Katsuta and Sami Pajari currently occupy the top three positions in the drivers’ standings, but Portugal’s road-sweeping conditions threaten to turn that advantage into a handicap.
Running first on gravel means clearing loose stones and dust for drivers further behind, often costing valuable seconds across the opening stages.
Evans returns to Portugal leading the championship after finishing second at Rally Islas Canarias while also claiming maximum Super Sunday points. The Welshman won the Portuguese event in 2021, but difficult road positions have repeatedly complicated his recent campaigns on the Iberian gravel classic.
Katsuta sits just two points behind Evans after surrendering the championship lead in the Canary Islands. Although the Japanese driver has twice finished fourth in Portugal, the event has also delivered heartbreak through mechanical failures and suspension damage in previous years.
One of the season’s biggest surprises has been Sami Pajari. The young Finn secured his fourth consecutive podium at the previous round and now faces the challenge of tackling a traditional European gravel rally from near the front of the field for the first time in his WRC career.
Despite Toyota’s strong championship position, Sébastien Ogier may represent the team’s greatest victory threat. Fresh from his Canary Islands triumph, the French legend returns to an event where he has built a remarkable legacy.
Ogier claimed his maiden WRC victory in Portugal back in 2010 and has since become the rally’s most successful driver with seven victories from 15 starts.
Oliver Solberg also entered Portugal eager to reignite his season after crashing out while battling Ogier in the Canary Islands. The Swede’s recent run of retirements has stalled his momentum, but Portugal also carries positive memories after his WRC2 victory here last season.
For Hyundai Motorsport, the rally offers an opportunity to respond after struggling against Toyota on asphalt in the Canary Islands. Adrien Fourmaux showed encouraging pace during the previous round, while Thierry Neuville returns as a former Portugal winner with an impressive record of consistent top-five finishes in the Rally1 era.
Veteran Dani Sordo adds further experience to Hyundai’s challenge. The Spaniard has reached the Portugal podium seven times and continues to thrive on the demanding gravel roads.
M-Sport Ford also arrives targeting progress with its youthful Rally1 line-up. Josh McErlean returns to an event where he achieved his best Rally1 finish last year, while Jon Armstrong and Mārtiņš Sesks continue building experience at the sport’s highest level.
The rally began with an earlier-than-usual schedule, featuring Wednesday shakedown before competitive action started on Thursday afternoon.
Solberg Takes Early Rally Lead
Oliver Solberg made an impressive start to Vodafone Rally de Portugal by ending Thursday’s opening leg with a 3.4-second lead over Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux.
The Toyota driver seized control during the Sever – Albergaria stage, where he delivered the fastest time on the longest test of the day. After three stages and 37.25 competitive kilometres, Solberg held a narrow advantage while the battle behind him remained incredibly tight.
Fourmaux initially opened the rally strongest by edging Elfyn Evans by just one-tenth of a second on the opening Águeda – Sever stage. Solberg followed closely behind before taking command on the second test.
Sébastien Ogier, Thierry Neuville and Evans remained separated by only tenths of a second heading into the overnight halt.
Solberg admitted he avoided unnecessary risks during the Figueira da Foz super special because crews had no overnight service available.
“I just tried to be clean and take it easy. It has been an okay start. It’s a long way to go and every day is going to be different.”
said Solberg
Ogier recovered well after struggling with the balance of his Toyota on the opening stage. The seven-time Portugal winner improved as the evening progressed and finished third overall, only 7.2 seconds from the lead.
Neuville sat fourth despite a half-spin on the final stage, while Evans completed the top five after a strong drive opening the road on Portugal’s loose gravel conditions.
Sami Pajari held sixth ahead of Dani Sordo, with Takamoto Katsuta eighth. M-Sport Ford drivers Josh McErlean, Jon Armstrong and Mārtiņš Sesks rounded out the top positions.
In WRC2, Jan Solans emerged as the early category leader ahead of Nikolay Gryazin, Alejandro Cachón and Yohan Rossel.
Friday’s schedule presents a far tougher challenge with repeated runs through Mortágua, Arganil and Lousã alongside a remote service section expected to test both reliability and endurance.
Standings After Thursday (SS3/23)
- Oliver Solberg / Elliott Edmondson – Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 – 28m 00.0s
- Adrien Fourmaux / Alexandre Coria – Hyundai i20 N Rally1 +3.4s
- Sébastien Ogier / Vincent Landais – Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 +7.2s
- Thierry Neuville / Martijn Wydaeghe – Hyundai i20 N Rally1 +7.4s
- Elfyn Evans / Scott Martin – Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 +7.5s
- Sami Pajari / Marko Salminen – Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 +10.7s
