Toyota GAZOO Racing Turns Late Drama into Double Podium at Rally de Portugal

Toyota GAZOO Racing has emerged from a brutal Vodafone Rally de Portugal with a hard‑earned double podium, turning late heartbreak into a statement of resilience and depth. The team’s GR Yaris Rally1 cars thrived on the rough, rain-soaked gravel as Oliver Solberg and Elfyn Evans capitalized on late drama ahead to secure second and third overall on a demanding weekend.

Solberg and co-driver Elliott Edmondson brought the No. 99 GR Yaris Rally1 home in second, while Evans and Scott Martin hustled the No. 33 sister car to third, with both crews also locking out the top two places in the Super Sunday standings. Their haul strengthens GAZOO Racing’s commanding manufacturers’ lead and keeps its drivers in control of the WRC race.

Late twist on classic gravel

For much of Sunday, it looked like Sébastien Ogier was on course for a record‑extending victory after mastering Saturday’s treacherous wet stages to build a double‑digit lead. The penultimate run through Vieira do Minho changed everything, with punctures for both Ogier and fellow GR‑WRT driver Sami Pajari costing each more than two minutes and dramatically reshuffling the order. Solberg and Evans seized the opportunity with calm, mistake‑free runs to move into the podium positions.

Deputy Team Principal Juha Kankkunen summed it up as “rallying in a nutshell”—a reminder that nothing is guaranteed until the final time control. The team had previously benefited from similar late drama in Croatia, and this time had to absorb being on the receiving end while still converting the weekend into a strong points haul.

Solberg’s confidence‑restoring drive

For Solberg, second place in Portugal marked a much‑needed reset after a pair of difficult rallies. Despite describing the event as a "rollercoaster," he and Edmondson repeatedly showed front‑running pace in changing grip levels and then delivered when it mattered most on Sunday. Topping the Super Sunday classification added valuable bonus points and propelled Solberg to third in the drivers’ standings, just 31 points off the lead.

His result also underlined how quickly he has integrated into the GR‑WRT environment, repaying the team’s faith with a mature, measured performance on one of the most punishing gravel events on the calendar. For a young driver still building his top‑class résumé, holding his nerve while title‑winning teammates hit trouble is the kind of weekend that can define a season.

GR Yaris Rally1 shows its range

Portugal’s mix of fast sandy sections, embedded rocks, and heavy ruts demanded a car that could be both tough and quick, and the GR Yaris Rally1 again proved why it is a benchmark in the hybrid Rally1 era. With more than 500 PS from its turbocharged engine and hybrid unit.

The car combined explosive acceleration with the durability needed for repeated punishing loops. Running on 100 percent sustainable fuel and built around a spaceframe chassis for enhanced safety, the Rally1 platform continues to double as Toyota’s rolling laboratory for future road-car technology.

Looking ahead to Rally Japan

Leaving Portugal, GAZOO Racing holds a commanding 93‑point margin in the manufacturers’ standings over Hyundai, with GR‑WRT2 also comfortably in third place. Evans, Katsuta, and Solberg sit first, second, and third, respectively, in the drivers’ championship, underlining the team’s grip on the 2026 title fight at the halfway mark.