Rally de Portugal marked a redemptive return to form for Hyundai Motorsport, with Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja showcasing blistering pace and fierce determination to secure a hard-fought second place in the fifth round of the 2025 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) season.
Matonsinhos, Portugal – 18 May 2025
After a gruelling three-day contest across 24 demanding stages, Hyundai Motorsport emerged from Rally de Portugal with its head held high. Leading the charge was Estonian duo Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja, who delivered a near-perfect final day performance to claim second overall and dominate the Super Sunday classification.
Despite a mechanical setback on Saturday that threatened to derail their momentum, Tänak and Järveoja never faltered. They rebounded in spectacular fashion on Sunday, winning five of the day’s six stages—including a blistering 5.1-second lead on SS23 Felgueiras 2—culminating in a dramatic push through the iconic Fafe Power Stage that earned them maximum Super Sunday and bonus points.
“This weekend was very frustrating in some ways—I hate losing, especially at a rally that means so much to me,” Tänak admitted. “But we showed the pace, the enjoyment was there, and it’s a definite step forward from Rally Islas Canarias. We’re back in the fight, and it’s time someone other than Toyota wins a rally this season.”
Indeed, Tänak’s pace was unrelenting throughout the weekend. The Estonian won half of the event’s 24 stages, led the rally outright for 15 of them, and missed out on victory by a narrow 8.7 seconds to Toyota’s Sébastien Ogier.
Double Points Boost for Hyundai
Teammates Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe also put in a solid performance, finishing fourth overall and third in the Super Sunday standings. The Belgian crew posted top-three times on Sunday’s early stages and rounded out their campaign with the second-fastest run through the Fafe Power Stage, collecting vital bonus points in the process.
“We didn’t struggle too much this weekend—the performance was there,” said Neuville. “There’s still room for improvement, especially with our pace on Saturday. If we can fine-tune the car for Sardinia, we’ll be in a stronger position.”
A Weekend of Mixed Fortunes
For Adrien Fourmaux and Alexandre Coria, the weekend promised much but ended in disappointment. After a flying start on Friday that saw them challenging Tänak for the lead, a suspension failure dashed their hopes. The French crew were ultimately forced to retire before the Power Stage due to cooling issues.
“It’s frustrating, especially after the pace we showed on Friday,” said Fourmaux. “But we learned a lot, especially about the Hankook tyres, and we’ll come back stronger for Sardinia.”
Team Perspective: Redemption in Portugal
Hyundai Motorsport Team Principal Cyril Abiteboul was candid in his assessment of the weekend. While the team missed out on the top step of the podium, he hailed the resilience and performance of the crews.
“This weekend was a return to the form we expect from Hyundai Motorsport,” Abiteboul commented. “Ott was exceptional—12 stage wins, leading for most of the rally, and delivering a masterclass on Sunday. He deserved the victory, but a reliability issue cost us dearly. That said, we were competitive throughout, and the team should be proud. Now, we look ahead to Sardinia with confidence and determination.”
Looking Ahead: Sardinian Showdown
With Toyota maintaining its dominance this season—winning all five rounds so far—Hyundai is eager to change the narrative. Rally Italia Sardegna, taking place from 5–8 June, offers a golden opportunity. The team has won the last three editions of the rally and will aim to extend that streak with renewed confidence.
Final Rally de Portugal Classification
- Sébastien Ogier / Vincent Landais – Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 – 3:48:35.9
- Ott Tänak / Martin Järveoja – Hyundai i20 N Rally1 – +8.7
- Kalle Rovanperä / Jonne Halttunen – Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 – +12.2
- Thierry Neuville / Martijn Wydaeghe – Hyundai i20 N Rally1 – +38.5
Super Sunday Classification
- Ott Tänak – 47:03.8
- Kalle Rovanperä – +12.0
- Thierry Neuville – +21.3
WRC Drivers’ Championship (After Round 5)
- Elfyn Evans – 118 pts
- Kalle Rovanperä – 88 pts
- Sébastien Ogier – 86 pts
- Ott Tänak – 84 pts
- Thierry Neuville – 78 pts
Manufacturers’ Championship
- Toyota Gazoo Racing – 258 pts
- Hyundai Shell Mobis – 203 pts
Hyundai’s challenge is far from over—but with Tänak’s fire rekindled and Neuville within striking distance, the team is poised to ignite the second half of the season. Sardinia awaits.
