Matosinhos, Portugal – May 7, 2026 – The opening day of the 59th Vodafone Rally de Portugal proved that even a relatively short leg can deliver world-class drama. After just three special stages covering 37.25 competitive kilometres, Oliver Solberg and co-driver Elliott Edmondson emerged as the surprise leaders of the sixth round of the FIA World Rally Championship. Driving the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, the Swedish driver ended Thursday with a 3.4-second advantage over Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux, while nine-time world champion Sébastien Ogier completed the provisional podium, 7.2 seconds behind the leader.
With four Toyota crews and two Hyundais occupying the top six positions, the opening day set the stage for what promises to be an intense battle throughout the Portuguese classic.
A ceremonial start gives way to fierce competition
Following the traditional ceremonial start in Coimbra, competitors headed towards the opening special stage, Águeda–Sever (15.08 km). Although it was only the beginning of the rally, the leading crews immediately demonstrated that every tenth of a second would matter.
Adrien Fourmaux made the strongest start, setting the fastest time on the opening test. The Frenchman, enjoying an impressive first season with Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team, immediately showcased the pace of the Hyundai i20 N Rally1 on Portugal’s demanding gravel roads.
His advantage, however, was minimal. Elfyn Evans finished just one tenth of a second behind, while Oliver Solberg conceded only two tenths, underlining just how closely matched the leading contenders were from the very first kilometres.
Solberg strikes back on the day’s longest stage
The rally’s complexion changed on the second special stage, Sever–Albergaria (20.24 km), where Oliver Solberg delivered one of the standout performances of his WRC career.
Driving with remarkable confidence and precision, the Swede posted the fastest time, beating Thierry Neuville by 1.4 seconds while taking 3.6 seconds out of Fourmaux. That performance was enough to move Solberg into the overall lead.
On one of the roughest roads of the opening leg, Solberg combined impressive speed with mature tyre management and clean driving, avoiding the mistakes that often punish drivers during Portugal’s notoriously abrasive opening stages.
Figueira da Foz super special changes little
The day’s final challenge was the spectacular Figueira da Foz Super Special Stage, a short 1.93-kilometre sprint designed primarily for spectators lining the coastal venue.
Sébastien Ogier and Elfyn Evans shared the fastest time, but the margins were too small to significantly alter the overall standings. Ogier nevertheless gained enough time to move into third place, edging Thierry Neuville by just two tenths of a second.
At the end of Thursday’s action, only 7.5 seconds separated the top five drivers—an indication that the battle for victory was only just beginning.
Toyota holds the early advantage
Toyota Gazoo Racing enjoyed an outstanding opening day, placing four cars inside the top six. Alongside Solberg, both Ogier and Evans remained firmly in contention, while Sami Pajari completed another encouraging performance for the Japanese manufacturer.
Hyundai answered with Fourmaux and Neuville occupying second and fourth respectively, ensuring that the fight between the two manufacturers remained perfectly balanced heading into Friday.
M-Sport Ford endured a quieter opening leg but still secured encouraging positions with Joshua McErlean and Jon Armstrong completing the top ten, both keeping themselves within striking distance should attrition play a role over the coming days.
Solberg keeps his feet on the ground
Despite leading one of the most prestigious events on the WRC calendar, Solberg remained composed after the finish.
Rather than celebrating prematurely, the young Swede stressed that Thursday represented only the beginning of a much longer contest. With more than 300 competitive kilometres still to come, he acknowledged that consistency and tyre management would become increasingly important as the rally progressed.
Sébastien Ogier adopted a similarly measured approach. A multiple-time Rally Portugal winner, the Frenchman appeared content to stay within touching distance of the lead rather than chase outright stage victories on the opening day. Experience has repeatedly shown that Rally Portugal is rarely won on Thursday—but it can easily be lost.
Overall Classification after SS3
| Position | Crew | Car | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oliver Solberg / Elliott Edmondson | Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 | 28:00.0 |
| 2 | Adrien Fourmaux / Alexandre Coria | Hyundai i20 N Rally1 | +3.4 s |
| 3 | Sébastien Ogier / Vincent Landais | Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 | +7.2 s |
| 4 | Thierry Neuville / Martijn Wydaeghe | Hyundai i20 N Rally1 | +7.4 s |
| 5 | Elfyn Evans / Scott Martin | Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 | +7.5 s |
| 6 | Sami Pajari / Marko Salminen | Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 | +10.7 s |
| 7 | Dani Sordo / Cándido Carrera | Hyundai i20 N Rally1 | +11.7 s |
| 8 | Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston | Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 | +15.9 s |
| 9 | Joshua McErlean / Eoin Treacy | Ford Puma Rally1 | +23.4 s |
| 10 | Jon Armstrong / Shane Byrne | Ford Puma Rally1 | +24.8 s |