Reigning world champion Sébastien Ogier is hoping that Hyundai’s improved form in the World Rally Championship continues to avoid a “boring” season – despite driving for its arch rivals Toyota.
Ogier had led Rally Portugal until the penultimate stage, where he sustained a puncture; this allowed Thierry Neuville to take the lead and take Hyundai’s first win of the 2026 season. Fellow Hyundai driver Adrien Fourmaux had also lead earlier in the rally before a self-inflicted off-road moment damaged both right-side tires.
Despite being a beneficiary of Hyundai’s struggles in the opening part of the season – especially on asphalt, where the evolved i20 N Rally1 has struggled for competitiveness – Ogier was encouraged by Hyundai’s improved form in Portugal.
“Yeah, luckily, honestly,” Ogier told DirtFish when asked about Hyundai’s improved performance in Portugal. “Otherwise it would be a boring championship.
Five of Hyundai's last six WRC wins have been on gravel events
“It’s nice to have a battle also with other brands than ours. I’m enjoying every competition; it’s nice to see that there are more people able to fight at the front on gravel.”
Though Toyota team principal Jari-Matti Latvala felt his team lost the win in Portugal through sheer misfortune, he too expressed encouragement at his chief rival’s pace on the loose stuff.
“We were maybe a bit unlucky on the last rally in Portugal,” said Latvala. “But it’s difficult in any sport to be invincible, and we like to see such strong competition because it makes the victories feel even better.”
Hyundai outscored Toyota by five points in Portugal, only the second time all season it has made gains in the manufacturers’ championship race over the reigning world champions. The other occasion was Safari Rally Kenya, thanks to rally winner Takamoto Katsuta not being nominated by Toyota to score points.
Both of its wins last season came on gravel rallies, at Acropolis Rally Greece and the Saudi Arabia season finale.
