Founded in 1967, Rally de Portugal was on the inaugural 1973 WRC calendar. The 2026 base was Matosinhos, and the organiser’s April guide planned 23 stages and 345.14 kilometres.
Loose gravel, a hard road base and rain jointly affect grip in the north; the Fafe jump is an iconic sight. The event returned north from the south in 2015, rather than moving around the millennium.
In 2026, Neuville won to give Hyundai its first victory of the season. The May statistics list a total route distance of 344.91 kilometres; document versions and the actual timed scope are recorded separately.
Rally history
Founded in 1967: The event entered international rallying with TAP title sponsorship in its early years and joined the inaugural WRC calendar in 1973.
Founding WRC round: Portugal was on the calendar for the World Rally Championship’s first season in 1973.
The golden Group B era: Crowds on the Fafe ridge in the 1980s became some of rallying’s most famous images and also helped bring about modern spectator-safety rules.
Return north in 2015: The event moved from the south back to the north, restoring classic gravel stages such as Fafe. Organisers announced the following year’s move in 2014.
Hyundai breaks through in 2026: Neuville came back to win in the rain, ending Toyota’s winning start to the season and adding uncertainty to the championship battle.
Rally characteristics
The Fafe jump: This stage’s jump is an iconic image of Rally de Portugal; changing conditions on repeat passes and the car’s landing attitude deserve attention.
Gravel’s dual character: Beneath the loose surface lies a hard base, and straying slightly off line can remove grip. The interplay between sweeping the road and exploiting it runs throughout the event.
Atlantic weather: Rain can change the road’s character at any time, making tyre gambles as important as weather radar.
Northern gravel: The Matosinhos service base and northern hillside stages form the modern route, with spectator arrangements adjusted for each edition.
2026 WRC Rally de Portugal · Data review
2026-5-10, Thierry Neuville recorded 3h 53m 01.7s to win Rally de Portugal, beating Solberg by 16.3 seconds and Evans by 29.1 for Hyundai’s first victory of the season. The event was based in Matosinhos, near Porto.
Overall results · Top three
Position
Driver
Car
Total time / gap to winner
1
Thierry Neuville
Hyundai i20 N Rally1
3:53:01.7
2
Oliver Solberg
Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
+16.3 s
3
Elfyn Evans
Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
+29.1 s
Event highlights
Tyre losses on the penultimate stage: Ogier still led by 17.3 seconds after Sunday’s first two stages, but stopped to change a tyre on the second pass of Vieira do Minho, losing about two minutes. Pajari, previously third, lost over two minutes on the same stage; they ultimately finished sixth and seventh respectively.
The podium and Sunday points: Neuville won overall, with Solberg and Evans moving up to second and third. The two Toyota drivers also took first and second respectively in Super Sunday. Evans was third on the Power Stage and extended his championship advantage over Katsuta to 12 points.
When the northern route returned: Founded in 1967, Rally de Portugal joined the inaugural WRC calendar in 1973. The event moved back north from the south in 2015, restoring Fafe as a key stage. Fafe’s jumps and the northern gravel roads are defining features of the rally.
Event facts at a glance
Item
Data
Location
Matosinhos, Portugal
2026 planned stages
23 stages (2026)
2026 planned stage distance
345.14 kilometres (April guide version)
Surface type
Gravel
First held
1967
Most recent winner
Thierry Neuville (Hyundai, 2026)
2026 event record
Neuville gives Hyundai its first win of the season
Also known as
A sea of fans
The organiser’s April event guide for 2026 listed 23 stages and 345.14 kilometres, while the May statistics listed 344.91 kilometres. The overview table uses the April guide’s planned route data; distances change with itinerary versions.
Information updated: 2026-10-3
Rally data
Stages23 (planned)
Total stage distance345.14 km (planned)
SurfaceGravel
Most recent winnerThierry NeuvilleHyundai i20 N Rally1 (2026)
