Rally de Portugal, a cornerstone of the FIA World Rally Championship since its inception in 1973, returns from 15–18 May 2025 as the fifth round of the season-and the first of seven consecutive gravel rallies that will define the heart of this year’s campaign. Revered for its passionate crowds, iconic stages, and technical complexity, Portugal remains a highlight for competitors and fans alike.
The Route: Tradition and Innovation
Centred around the service park in Matosinhos, just north of Porto, this year’s itinerary combines classic gravel tests with new challenges. Friday’s opening leg is particularly notable, featuring a demanding ten-stage schedule-the most in a single day since Rally Estonia 2020-including two brand-new stages and three loops, totalling nearly 150 competitive kilometres6. The rally commences with Thursday’s ceremonial start in Coimbra, followed by the Figueira da Foz Super Special Stage, a crowd-pleaser along the Atlantic coast.
Saturday revisits legendary roads such as Vieira do Minho, Cabeceiras de Basto, and a shortened Amarante, before concluding with the Lousada Super Special. Sunday’s finale is headlined by the iconic Fafe stage, renowned for its spectacular jump and fervent spectator presence-a fitting climax to four days and 24 stages of competition.
Sporting Context: A Season in Flux
The 2025 season has thus far been dominated by Toyota Gazoo Racing, who arrive in Portugal with a perfect four-from-four win record and an unbeaten streak in the country dating back to 201935. Elfyn Evans, the 2021 Portugal winner and current championship leader, spearheads a formidable Toyota line-up alongside two-time Portugal victor Kalle Rovanperä and the event’s record-holder, Sébastien Ogier, who seeks a remarkable seventh win on these stages-
Hyundai Motorsport, meanwhile, are eager to rebound from a challenging outing in Gran Canaria. Thierry Neuville and Ott Tänak, both championship contenders, are joined by Adrien Fourmaux, who continues his quest for a maiden WRC victory. M-Sport Ford fields its largest Rally1 entry in years, with four Puma Rally1s, including promising Latvian youngster Mārtiņš Sesks and local privateer Diogo Salvi.
Technical and Environmental Challenges
Portugal’s gravel roads are notoriously changeable. Early passes are defined by soft, sandy surfaces, offering limited grip and favouring early starters. As the day progresses, the stages become increasingly rutted and rocky, exposing sharp stones that threaten tyres and suspension. Teams must balance outright speed with mechanical sympathy, often raising ride heights for the second loop to avoid damage.
Weather, too, is a perennial factor. Early summer temperatures can soar, and sudden showers are not uncommon, adding another layer of unpredictability. Crews must adapt quickly to shifting grip levels and visibility, with tyre choice and strategy playing a pivotal role.
The Wider Field
The depth of competition is further underscored by a record-breaking 45 entries in WRC2, the championship’s premier support category. The likes of Oliver Solberg, Gus Greensmith, Yohan Rossel, and Pierre-Louis Loubet will vie for honours, ensuring fierce battles throughout the field-
