Rally Portugal Set to Impress
Rally Portugal is gearing up to host the strongest Rally1 line-up since 2022, featuring 12 Rally1 cars and a remarkable 45 entries in the WRC2 class from May 15-18.
Toyota's Dominance
Toyota will once again showcase five GR Yaris Rally1 cars, with the legendary Sebastien Ogier, a six-time winner in Portugal, making his third appearance in a partial season. He will compete alongside full-time drivers such as Elfyn Evans, Kalle Rovanpera, Takamoto Katsuta, and Sami Pajari. Notably, this round will unveil Toyota’s new silver paint scheme replacing the traditional black livery for summer events.
Hyundai and M-Sport Represented
Hyundai will enter three i20 N Rally cars, driven by Thierry Neuville, Ott Tanak, and Adrien Fourmaux. Meanwhile, M-Sport-Ford will field four Pumas, including local driver Diogo Salvi. This marks the largest Rally1 entry since Rally Spain 2022.
WRC2 Class Breaks Records
In a thrilling twist, the WRC2 class will see a record 45 car entries, featuring renowned rally winners like Kris Meeke and Dani Sordo. Both are competing in the Portuguese national championship, with Meeke driving a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 and Sordo in a Hyundai i20 N Rally2.
Prominent WRC2 contenders include Oliver Solberg, Yohan Rossel, Nikolay Gryazin, Gus Greensmith, and Fabrizio Zaldivar. Additionally, Pierre-Louis Loubet is set to return in a Ford Fiesta Rally2 for M-Sport, marking his comeback to the team.
Anticipation Builds
With preparations already underway, both Toyota and M-Sport have begun conducting pre-event tests, ensuring they are ready for an exhilarating round of competition in Portugal!
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