Sébastien Ogier and co-driver Vincent Landais delivered a masterclass in precision and patience to claim their seventh Rally de Portugal victory, securing an 8.7-second win and extending Toyota Gazoo Racing’s unbeaten run in the 2025 FIA World Rally Championship.

What began as a promising weekend for Hyundai turned in Toyota’s favour after a series of setbacks, most notably for Ott Tänak, who had led the rally in its early stages. The Estonian, driving alongside Martin Järveoja, had been locked in a tight battle with teammate Adrien Fourmaux until Fourmaux was forced out on Stage 8 (Arganil 2) due to a broken kingpin bracket.

That opened the door for Tänak to extend his lead, but Sébastien Ogier was lurking just behind — close enough to take advantage when Tänak’s Hyundai developed power-steering issues. The mechanical failure saw Tänak drop down the leaderboard, relinquishing the lead to Ogier, who would go on to control the remainder of the rally.

Despite the setback, Tänak mounted a late charge, battling back to reclaim second place from reigning world champion Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen by 3.5 seconds. Rovanperä ultimately settled for third, adding another strong result for Toyota.

Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville and Martin Wydaeghe finished fourth, keeping their title hopes alive with a solid, if unspectacular, performance. Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta and Aaron Johnston rounded out the top five, continuing their steady run of form this season.

Championship leaders Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin struggled to find top pace and finished sixth, ahead of fellow Toyota pair Sami Pajari and Marko Salminen, who showed encouraging signs in their development year.

M-Sport Ford’s Josh McErlean and Eoin Treacy came out on top in an internal battle with teammates Grégoire Munster and Louis Louka, securing eighth overall.

There was disappointment for Martins Sesks and Renārs Francis, whose rally was hampered by an early puncture on SS2 and a later three-minute time penalty for a seatbelt issue that delayed their start to a stage. They finished outside the points.

Ogier’s seventh Portugal victory adds to his legendary status and further highlights the strength of Toyota’s 2025 campaign. With the Japanese manufacturer now undefeated through the first five rounds of the season, the momentum shows no sign of slowing.

Despite competing part-time, Ogier’s impact on the championship narrative remains significant. His performance in Portugal not only extended Toyota’s dominance but also disrupted the title charge of full-time rivals, tightening the battle among the front-runners.

Photography and words by Gary Fothergill

Ogier Clinches Seventh Crown at Rally de Portugal

Carlisle Stages 2025 Highlights