Sébastien Ogier confirmed a record-breaking seventh win at the Rally of Portugal. The result was Toyota’s sixth in a row in Portugal and the fifth of the 2025 season so far for the Japanese manufacturer.
‘Super Sunday’ winner Ott Tänak claimed the fastest time on the Wolf Power Stage at Fafe with a run of 6min 22.785sec and that was enough to confirm second overall. In a desperate bid to catch Tänak, Kalle Rovanperä clocked a time of 6min 24.731sec but it was not enough and the Finn finished on the bottom step of the podium.
Thierry Neuville finished fourth and carded a run of 6min 23.878sec in the Power Stage. Takamoto Katsuta did a massive leap over the Fafe jump and clocked a 6min 27.132sec and confirmed fifth overall.
Championship leader Elfyn Evans and Toyota team-mate Sami Pajari finished sixth and seventh overall but Elfyn saw his lead at the top of the Drivers’ Championship pegged back slightly after his road position on Friday. He carded a Power Stage time of 6min 30.077sec.
M-Sport Ford’s Josh McErlean and Grégoire Munster stayed clear of last-minute drama to secure eighth and ninth overall in their Ford Pumas. McErlean was the quickest of the four Ford drivers on the last stage.
Swede Oliver Solberg confirmed his seventh WRC2 success by 51.8 seconds from Frenchman Yohan Rossel. He beat Rossel by 2.721 seconds on the Power Stage.
Gus Greensmith was handed road-opening duties for the Fafe finale. The Briton safely negotiated the special and entertained the crowds on his way to third in WRC2.
Car 33. EVANS/MARTIN
“Not an easy weekend. Friday was tough. We made it tougher on ourselves, especially from Friday onwards. We are disappointed with the outcome and have to be better in Sardinia.”
Car 1. NEUVILLE/WYDAEGHE
“It was not fun. I was fighting the car and using the handbrake. I am happy to be at the finish and disappointed for the team. We deserved more as a team. We keep pushing. This was a really exhausting weekend. This was not an easy one.”
Car 8. TÄNAK/JÄRVEOJA
“I must say today was on the edge all day. After yesterday’s disappointment it was coming back with the second or coming back with the steering wheel! At least performance is good for the future.”
Car 17. OGIER/LANDAIS
“I think it is something that I can be proud of to be competitive after all these years, The car was great all weekend. On our side, we proved one more time that race management is a craft we have. Happy, seven times in Portugal is not too bad. The crowd here was pushing me from the recce. It was a tough fight with Ott. It was not fair with his problem. It is not only about being quick in rally.”
Car 16. FOURMAUX/CORIA
Retired at the time control (Fafe regroup - TC23A) before the stage after overheating issues.
Car 69. ROVANPERÄ/HALTTUNEN
“Not surprised. It was a long and difficult weekend for us. We could not pick up the pace. We are missing a lot of pace. We cannot be faster than that, just no grip and no pace in the car. We need to get working on something.”
Car 18. KATSUTA/JOHNSTON
“That was quite big (jump). The car was very good. I was trying too hard and making mistakes. Thanks for the team for giving me a very nice car. I could not be on the podium this time but I will try and be on the podium next time.”
Car 5. PAJARI/SALMINEN
“The plan was simple to try and get used to the gravel conditions with this car. That is what we did. No issue and no mistakes.”
Car 13. MUNSTER/LOUKA
“Really tough event. We got some things right and some things wrong. The result is not there but at least we got the feeling back near the end.”
Car 22. SESKS/FRANCIS
“It was a challenging week and good experience. Not all the things went as planned. They never do. It was a weekend of learning.”
Car 55. MCERLEAN/TREACY
“It was been a really nice weekend. We have loved every moment of it. So nice to come to the finish clean. Big thanks to the team with four cars at the finish and no problems.”
Car 2. SALVI/CORONADO
“What a party. I enjoy it. Very slow, but I enjoyed it. Axel was incredible. M-Sport, tremendous from the team, Charlie, the girls, tremendous work. Richard, you can be proud of your team. If you can give them a raise, 10% that is nothing. And, finally, my wife, the love of my life. She gave me children and I give her a dinner tonight!”
Car 20. SOLBERG/EDMONDSON
“Finally. No doughnuts this time. It was fantastic. Friday, I tried to do maximum and control the rest of the rally. It was a long weekend but great fun. The fans are unbelievable. I have never seen so many people in my life. My dad (Petter) is not here. It’s the first time he has not been on the rally.”
Car 21. ROSSEL/DUNAND
“After the first day we understand to play for the win would be impossible. I am quite happy with the result after the first day. We tried to understand the tyre and the setting. The team worked very well with the setting. I hope that we have more grip in Sardinia. We will be playing for the win.”
Car 23. GREENSMITH/ANDERSSON
“We had to take a few things on the chin this weekend. It is not a bad start to the season, first and third. It was such a long rally, so demanding. Now I’ve got to go and get married. That’s quite important.”