S1 Ep15 - WRC Portugal Podcast Review
- Drew Bentham
- 21 hours ago
- 1 min read
WRC Portugal Review
Thierry Neuville claimed a dramatic Vodafone Rally de Portugal victory on Sunday to revive his season and deliver Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team’s first win of 2026.
The 2024 world champion arrived at round six sitting only seventh in the drivers’ standings after a difficult opening sequence that included a final-stage crash whilst leading Croatia Rally and no podiums from the first five rounds. Hyundai, meanwhile, had watched Toyota win every rally so far this year.
Portugal looked set to continue that pattern until the penultimate stage, when Sébastien Ogier stopped to change a right-rear puncture on Vieira do Minho 2. The Toyota Gazoo Racing driver had started Sunday with a 21.9sec lead and was closing on a record-extending eighth Portugal win, but his victory hopes disappeared in the rutted, rock-strewn conditions.
Neuville, who had kept himself in the fight throughout a punishing weekend of rain, mud and constantly changing grip, moved into the lead with only the Fafe Wolf Power Stage remaining. He and co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe completed the final test without drama to win by 16.3sec from Oliver Solberg.
On the Podcast this week, Sam Coleman joins us for her first episode to discuss and review the events in WRC Portugal. We take a look back and discuss the heart breaking moment Sebastian's rally fell apart, the extra competitor in the form of the low loader, Hyundai's long awaited first win of the year and Lancia's success in WRC2.
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