P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Sebastien Ogier and Vincent had their eighth Rally de Portugal victory all but wrapped up heading into the penultimate stage with a 17.3 second lead over Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe with Toyota’s Sami Pajari and Marko Salminen on their way to a fifth consecutive podium. The rally gods had other ideas as both Toyotas […]
Sebastien Ogier and Vincent Landais were close to securing their eighth Rally de Portugal victory, holding a 17.3-second lead over Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe before suffering punctures in the penultimate stage, allowing Neuville to take the lead and clinch his 23rd career win for Hyundai. This win was Hyundai’s first since Saudi Arabia last year, making it a memorable and emotional victory for Neuville and the team.
Oliver Solberg and Elliot Edmondson finished in second place, followed by Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin in third, increasing their championship lead over Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta and Aaron Johnston to 12 points. Solberg expressed relief at bouncing back from two consecutive DNFs and thanked his team for their support in getting him back on the podium.
Adrien Fourmaux and Alex Coria claimed fourth place and won the power stage bonus points, showcasing their resilient performance throughout the challenging rally. Neuville, Evans, Solberg, and Ogier collected additional power stage points.
Teemu Suninen emerged victorious in WRC2, while Toyota Gazoo Racing maintained their lead in the Manufacturers’ standings despite a slightly reduced margin of 93 points. Stay tuned for the full Rally de Portugal report in Motorsport Monday.
