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Rally Portugal kick-starts European season in the WRC
Welcome to Europe and the start of the European gravel season in the FIA World Rally Championship. Rally Portugal gets underway this week and leads a five-event loose surface run across the continent. This is the period where a championship challenge is built and formed.
Last time out, the global series headed to the Canary Islands for the first time - with the super-fast and super-smooth asphalt playing host to the world's best drivers. Finnish star Kalle Rovanperä came into the event lost at sea - struggling to find his confidence and dominating form from 2022 and 2023 when he claimed back-to-back titles. Not usually known for his Tarmac prowess - the Toyota driver commanded, in fact dominated the proceedings by winning 15 of the 18 timed special stage tests to win the rally by 53.5 seconds over DAZN tip for the top step Sébastien Ogier.
This time - it’s back to the gravel a surface Rovanperä was brought up on and with the recent run of form - this could give him the confidence and mojo for a full-on title-tilt. Rally Portugal is one of the classics - a staple in the WRC calendar, with dusty sweeping trials that go from smooth to rough surfaces in a heartbeat - huge jumps including the infamous Fafe spectator point which sees the top Rally1 cars fly at an enormous height, as well as the Lousada Super Special Stage which pits the drivers head-to-head in a cauldron like showdown in front of thousands of passionate fans.
We mentioned Rovanperä would be right up for it, but who else will be looking for a strong European leg? Sébastien Ogier is back for another event in his part-time programme in 2025 and has Portugal form himself having won here six times including the 2024 event. Last year, the Frenchman sealed his 60th rally win at the time and became the most successful driver in WRC history in Portugal. Discount the eight-time champion at your peril!
Teammate Elfyn Evans secured third in the Canaries behind the two aforementioned drivers. This result saw him continue his podium run having taken two wins, a second as well as the third to lead the title race heading into Portugal. The British driver is in the pound seat, with a 43-point lead at the summit of the table - a nice buffer for the 2021 Portugal victor to play with.
Swelling the Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Rally1 ranks to a five car team in Portugal will be Finnish ace Sami Pajari who is revelling in his first full season in the top-flight and Japanese driver Takamoto Katsuta who is chasing that elusive first WRC victory.
Still head scratching after a disappointing trip to the Canaries - the Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team have some work to do - and that needs to start now. Adrien Fourmaux gave the Korean firm a glimmer of hope by setting a fastest stage time on one of the Spanish island tests - but regarding pace - there is more to be found. Reigning champion Theirry Neuville is still super consistent and only seven points behind Rovanperä - but the Belgian needs to find that title charging spark from 12 months ago to get anywhere near the Toyota team. His stablemate Ott Tänak is a further two points back - but the Estonian is getting into some of his favourite events of the year and coupled with his steely determination, could well flip the season on its head - if the i20 Rally1 can match the Yaris on pace. Fourmaux has had a torrid season to date since his Monte Carlo podium and he too will be looking to show his worth on the Portuguese gravel to help ignite a bid for the Hyundai team in the manufacturers championship.
Privately run M-Sport Ford World Rally Team bolsters its line-up for Portugal with five Puma Rally1 cars ready to hit the stages. Leading the line is Luxembourg charger Grégoire Munster and Irish star Josh McErlean - the season long recruits for the blue oval. Flashes of brilliance has been the phrase to sum up the young pairing - but concrete results have been shortcoming so far. Both will eye Europe as home ground, with the two drivers enjoying plenty of experience in the feeder formula on these upcoming events, which will bring them plenty of motivation as they look to mix it in the top five - even a possible rostrum. It can never be out of the equation. Throw in the returning Latvian ace Mārtiņš Sesks and homegrown hero Diogo Salvi, M-Sport could have a formula for silverware this time out.
The support series in the shape of WRC2 sees a colossal 52 Rally2 spec cars take to the start with eyes on championship leader Yohan Rossell as well as Oliver Solberg and Gus Greensmith. All three have won rounds this season and dominated the four events before Portugal.
Follow all the action of the FIA World Rally Championship LIVE this weekend! 15-18 May. Four days of intense action on the loose is not to be missed!
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