Sébastien Ogier has once again etched his name into the Rally de Portugal history books, claiming an unprecedented seventh victory at the iconic gravel event. The Frenchman’s triumph, co-driven by Vincent Landais, marks the fifth consecutive win for Toyota GAZOO Racing in the 2025 World Rally Championship season, underscoring their formidable start to the year. Ogier navigated the challenging Portuguese stages with skill and precision, ultimately finishing 8.7 seconds ahead of Hyundai’s Ott Tänak after a dramatic rally filled with lead changes and mechanical issues.
Rally-Long Battle and Late Drama: The Vodafone Rally de Portugal witnessed a captivating battle for the lead, primarily between Ogier and Ott Tänak. Tänak in his Hyundai i20 N Rally1 held the top spot for a significant portion of the rally, showcasing impressive pace on the demanding gravel roads. However, the rally took a dramatic turn on Saturday when Tänak’s car suffered a power steering failure during the second run of the Amarante stage. This mechanical issue cost the Estonian driver valuable time, dropping him to third position overnight and handing Sébastien Ogier a substantial 27.6-second lead over his Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 teammate Kalle Rovanperä heading into the final day.
Final Day Push and Ogier’s Experience Prevails: Despite determined efforts from both Ott Tänak and Kalle Rovanperä on Sunday’s final stages, neither driver could overcome Ogier’s experience and strategic approach. Tänak demonstrated his raw speed by securing maximum Super Sunday points and managing to reclaim second position on the penultimate stage. Rovanperä also pushed hard, but ultimately Ogier’s consistent pace and rally management proved decisive. Ogier celebrated his 63rd career WRC victory at the finish, further solidifying his legendary status in the sport.
Toyota’s Unbroken Dominance: Toyota GAZOO Racing’s dominance in the 2025 WRC season remains unbroken, with different drivers securing victories in each of the five rounds held so far. Ogier’s win in Portugal follows victories by Rovanperä and Elfyn Evans earlier in the season, highlighting the depth and performance of the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 car and the strength of the team. This consistent success demonstrates Toyota’s commitment to maintaining their position at the pinnacle of the World Rally Championship.
Championship Standings Shift: Kalle Rovanperä’s third-place finish in Portugal allowed him to close the gap to his Toyota teammate Elfyn Evans in the drivers’ championship standings. Evans, who finished sixth overall after struggling with road-sweeping duties earlier in the rally, now holds a 30-point lead with nine rounds remaining. Ogier, competing on a part-time schedule this season, has now climbed to third overall in the championship standings, showcasing his continued competitiveness despite a reduced programme. Ott Tänak’s strong final day performance propelled him to fourth in the standings. Defending champion Thierry Neuville, driving the second Hyundai, finished fourth in Portugal after battling handling issues and slipped to fifth in the championship.
Frustration for Katsuta and Solid Result for Evans: Takamoto Katsuta endured a frustrating rally in his Toyota GR Yaris Rally1. Despite running as high as second on Friday, a spin on the penultimate stage compounded his difficulties, ultimately leaving him in fifth place, over a minute behind Neuville. Elfyn Evans, after a challenging Friday dealing with road-sweeping responsibilities, managed to salvage sixth overall, overtaking young Finn Sami Pajari on Sunday. Evans finished 7.3 seconds ahead of Pajari.
McErlean Impresses and Solberg Leads WRC2: M-Sport Ford driver Josh McErlean delivered one of his most consistent performances in the WRC, finishing in eighth place. He led home his M-Sport Ford teammate Grégoire Munster, who finished ninth. WRC2 category winner Oliver Solberg, driving a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, rounded out the top ten overall.
Looking Ahead to Sardinia: The World Rally Championship now heads to the challenging gravel roads of Rally Italia Sardegna, based in Olbia from June 5th to 8th. The hot weather and punishing conditions of the Sardinian stages will provide another demanding test for the teams and drivers as the 2025 season continues.
Rally de Portugal Classification:
- S Ogier / V Landais FRA Toyota GR Yaris 3h 48m 35.9s
- O Tänak / M Järveoja EST Hyundai i20 N +8.7s
- K Rovanperä / J Halttunen FIN Toyota GR Yaris +12.2s
- T Neuville / M Wydaeghe BEL Hyundai i20 N +38.5s
- T Katsuta / A Johnston JPN Toyota GR Yaris +1m 41.9s
- E Evans / S Martin GBR Toyota GR Yaris +2m 31.0s
Summary:
- Sébastien Ogier secured his record-extending seventh victory at Vodafone Rally de Portugal.
- Ott Tänak finished second after a late power steering issue cost him the lead.
- Kalle Rovanperä completed the podium in third place.
- Toyota GAZOO Racing achieved their fifth consecutive win in the 2025 WRC season.
- Rovanperä closed the championship gap to leader Elfyn Evans.
- Ogier climbed to third in the drivers’ standings.
- Josh McErlean impressed with an eighth-place finish for M-Sport Ford.
- Oliver Solberg won the WRC2 category and finished tenth overall.
- The next round of the championship is Rally Italia Sardegna.
Disclaimer: Results and standings are based on the information available at the time of reporting and may be subject to official confirmation by the FIA.
Source: WRC
AI Assistance: Gemini
