After a season of near-misses and mounting pressure, Thierry Neuville finally delivered the breakthrough Hyundai craved. The 2024 WRC champion stormed to victory at Rally Portugal, ending Hyundai's win drought in dramatic fashion and securing the team's first triumph of the 2026 World Rally Championship season.
It was a rally that had everything—a new four-day itinerary, four different leaders, and enough twists to keep fans on the edge of their seats. Neuville was locked in a fierce battle throughout the 23 gravel stages, but for much of the event, it looked like he'd have to settle for second place. That all changed in the penultimate stage when Toyota's Sébastien Ogier suffered a heartbreaking right-rear puncture, handing the lead to the Belgian.
With co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe guiding him through the final miles, Neuville kept his composure—no repeat of the costly error that denied him victory in Croatia last month. He crossed the finish line 16.3 seconds ahead of Toyota's Oliver Solberg, while championship leader Elfyn Evans completed the podium, finishing 29.1 seconds back.
The action started Thursday with Solberg setting the early pace, leading by 3.4 seconds over Hyundai's Adrien Fourmaux. It was a sign that Hyundai had the speed to challenge Toyota. But Friday brought chaos. Fourmaux took the lead only to suffer a double puncture in stage eight when his Hyundai i20 N bottomed out and fired off the road, costing him nearly half a minute. Solberg also went off at the same spot but escaped without damage.
Ogier seized the opportunity, ending Friday with a 3.7-second advantage over Neuville. Saturday's rain added more drama. Ogier held the lead until a downpour allowed Solberg to climb from fourth to first, leading by just 0.5 seconds. But Ogier struck back immediately, reclaiming the top spot before Solberg's charge unraveled with a front-right puncture and a spin in the wet conditions.
In the end, it was Neuville's consistency and cool head that won the day—a victory that not only breaks Hyundai's drought but also reshapes the championship battle as the season heats up.