Rally Portugal organisers have been handed a suspended €15,000 fine and a reprimand after a serious security breach brought Stage 7 to a halt. The incident, which occurred during Friday's second run through the iconic Arganil test, saw two unauthorised vehicles enter the live stage—forcing officials to throw the red flag and stop the action.
The drama unfolded when Toyota star Elfyn Evans encountered a recovery tow truck that had mistakenly driven onto the stage. Minutes later, the situation escalated as a car entered the stage, nearly colliding with Lancia WRC2 driver Yohan Rossel, who had to take evasive action. Rally officials had no choice but to halt the stage immediately.
An investigation by the Rally Portugal organising committee followed, with the matter referred to the FIA stewards. The stewards' report revealed that the clerk of the course, Horacio Rodrigues, confirmed "that at no time was the entry of these vehicles on to the stage communicated to Rally Control." The recovery truck driver had entered GPS coordinates for a retired competitor, and his sat-nav directed him straight onto the live special stage—passing several barriers marking the route without realising the danger.
The stewards ruled that the lack of communication regarding the vehicles' entry amounted to unsafe acts creating an unsafe situation, breaching Article 12.2.1.h of the 2026 FIA International Sporting Code. As a result, organisers have been ordered "to further improve the existing safety measures to avoid any other safety issue" during this year's event. The decision has been forwarded to the FIA WRC Commission, FIA Road Sport Committee, FIA Safety Committee, FIA Closed Road Commission, and the Portuguese ASN, FPAK.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of stage security in rallying—where split-second decisions and clear communication can mean the difference between a thrilling race and a dangerous situation. For fans and drivers alike, it's a call for vigilance as the championship pushes forward.