Ogier makes more WRC history with seventh Rally Portugal win

Sebastien Ogier extended his record at in the World Rall Championship Rally of Portugal on Sunday, securing a seventh victory on the event as Toyota continued its perfect start to 2025 with a fifth win in as many rounds.

With co-driver Vincent Landais, Ogier completed the four-day gravel event 8.7s ahead of Hyundai’s Ott Tanak, with Ogier's GR Yaris Rally1 teammate Kalle Rovanpera a further 3.5s back in third.

Ogier’s 63rd WRC win looked far from certain until late drama on Saturday. Having shadowed Tanak most of the way to that point, the Frenchman inherited the top spot when the Estonian’s i20 N Rally1 suffered a power steering failure. The issue dropped Tänak to third overnight and handed Ogier a 27.6s lead over Rovanpera heading into Sunday.

Despite spirited drives from both Tanak and Rovanpera on the final day – the Hyundai driver taking maximum Super Sunday points and reclaiming second on the penultimate test – neither could dislodge the eight-time world champion.

Tanak fought back as hard as he could but couldn't quite catch Ogier. Massimo Bettiol/Getty Images

While Toyota’s dominance remains unbroken, it scored with its third driver as Ogier joins Rovanpera and Elfyn Evans in the win column in 2025.

“I think it's something I can be proud of, the way I have managed to stay competitive after all these years,” said the eight-time WRC champion Ogier, 41. “Thanks to the team – it was great to drive this weekend.

“Ott was just flying [like] crazy, but maybe a bit too much actually – I don't know. On our side, race management is definitely a craft we have, so I'm happy. Seven times here in Portugal, not too bad!”

He has enough fingers to count his Rally Portugal wins...just. Jaanus Ree/Red Bull Content Pool

Rovanpera's result trimmed Evans’ championship lead to 30 points with nine rounds remaining. Ogier, competing on a part-time program, now holds third overall, with Tanak climbing to fourth.

Defending champion Thierry Neuville finished fourth, 26.3s behind teammate Tanak. The Belgian battled a persistent “loose rear end” and slipped to fifth in the championship standings.

Takamoto Katsuta endured a frustrating rally, further compounded by a spin on the penultimate stage. The Japanese driver had run as high as second with his Toyota on Friday but ended up more than a minute behind Neuville in fifth.

Evans salvaged sixth overall, overtaking Sami Pajari on Sunday. He ended 7.3s clear of the young Finn, having struggled to make headway after road-sweeping duties on Friday hampered his chances.

Josh McErlean had a strong outing for M-Sport Ford. Jaanus Ree/Red Bull Content Pool

M-Sport Ford’s Josh McErlean impressed with one of his most consistent performances yet, finishing eighth and leading home teammate Grégoire Munster.

In WRC2, the second tier of international rallying, Oliver Solberg maintained his place in 10th overall with his Toyota GRC to hold off Yohan Rossel (Citroen) for the class win.

The WRC resumes next month with another gravel-based round, Rally Italia Sardegna, from June 5-8.

Solberg ruled WRC2 from the get-go in Portugal. Jaanus Ree/Red Bull Content Pool

WRC Rally Portugal, positions after Sunday/Leg three
1 Sebastien Ogier/Vincent Landais (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +3h48m35.9s
2 Ott Tanak/Martin Jarveoja (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) +8.7s
3 Kalle Rovanpera/Jonne Halttunen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +12.2s
4 Thierry Neuville/Martijn Wydaeghe (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) +38.5s
5 Takamoto Katsuta/Aaron Johnston (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +1m41.9s
6 Elfyn Evans/Scott Martin (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +2m31.0s 7 Sami Pajari/Marko Salminen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +2m38.3s
8 Josh McErlean/Eoin Treacy (Ford Puma Rally1) +5m12.3s
9 Gregoire Munster/Louis Louka (Ford Puma Rally1) +5m57.5s
10 Oliver Solberg/Elliott Edmondson (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 – WRC2 leader) +9m15.1s

WRC Drivers’ Championship after 5 of 14 rounds

1 Evans 118 points

2 Rovanpera 88

3 Ogier 86

4 Tanak 84

5 Neuville 78

6 Katsuta 51

WRC Manufacturers’ Championship after 5 of 14 rounds

1 Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT 258 points

2 Hyundai Word Rally Team 203

3 M-Sport Ford 72

4 Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT2 36

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