Thierry Neuville and co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe claimed Hyundai’s first victory of the 2026 World Rally Championship season at Rally Portugal, capitalizing on a late puncture for Toyota’s Sebastien Ogier.
The 2024 WRC champion fought hard throughout the 23 gravel stages, but looked set for second place until Ogier suffered a right rear puncture in the penultimate stage. Inheriting the lead, Neuville avoided repeating the costly mistake in the final stage that had denied him a likely win in Croatia last month. He crossed the finish line 16.3 seconds ahead of Toyota’s Oliver Solberg, while championship leader Elfyn Evans completed the podium for the Japanese marque, 29.1 seconds back.
The rally proved the most fiercely contested of the season so far, with four different leaders over an expanded four-day itinerary.
Solberg led after Thursday’s opening three stages, holding a 3.4-second advantage over Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux, who showed the Korean manufacturer could challenge Toyota. That lead evaporated on Friday as Solberg struggled for pace in his GR Yaris, allowing Fourmaux to take the front. Despite no stage wins that morning, Fourmaux posted consistent fast times to hold off Toyota’s Sami Pajari and Ogier. However, Fourmaux’s Hyundai bottomed out in stage eight and ran off the road, causing a double puncture that cost him nearly 30 seconds. Solberg also went off at the same spot but avoided punctures. Ogier then assumed the lead, ending Friday 3.7 seconds ahead of Neuville, who benefited from the misfortune of Fourmaux and Solberg.
Rain threatened on Saturday morning before arriving for the final stage of the morning loop. Ogier held the lead until the downpour, when Solberg stunned the field in the tricky conditions, climbing from fourth to first, just 0.5 seconds ahead of Ogier. Ogier responded in the afternoon, reclaiming the lead before Solberg suffered a front right puncture in stage 16 and later spun in stage 18 as rain intensified. Ogier’s brilliant driving, especially in the wet stage 17 where he was 11.2 seconds faster than anyone, built a 21.9-second gap over Neuville entering the final four stages. Pajari held a comfortable third ahead of Solberg, with Evans fifth.
Sunday rain showers hampered Ogier, cutting his lead to 14.3 seconds after the first stage, though he quickly restored some margin. But a right rear puncture in stage 22 cost him two minutes, ending his victory hopes and dropping him to sixth overall.
New leader Neuville finished in style, missing the Power Stage win by just 0.6 seconds to teammate Fourmaux, who placed fourth overall. Solberg topped the Super Sunday standings, 4.2 seconds ahead of Evans, who extended his championship lead to 11 points over Takamoto Katsuta. Katsuta struggled for speed throughout the rally and settled for fifth, while Toyota’s Pajari ran as high as second after setting a fastest time.
