Toyota dominates ahead of Portugal rally

Toyota is walking into Rally de Portugal with the kind of advantage that changes the whole mood of a championship. Five rallies have been run in 2026. Toyota has won all five. Now the series flips back to gravel for Portugal on May 7–10, and the big question is whether anyone can finally make this season feel competitive again. ### Why does Portugal matter so much? Portugal is not just another stop. It is one of the classic WRC gravel rallies — fast in places, rough in others, and famous for giant crowds and stages that punish small mistakes. This year it also matters because the championship is coming off two asphalt rounds, so teams are shifting setup, rhythm, and tire management back to loose-surface rallying. ### What exactly has Toyota done? Basically, Toyota has been nearly perfect. The team has won every rally so far in 2026, and the last round in the Canary Islands turned into a full statement — a 1-2-3-4 finish on asphalt. That result pushed Toyota’s manufacturers’ lead out to 98 points, which is the kind of margin that lets a team attack and protect at the same time. ### Who is carrying that run? Elfyn Evans is the championship leader on 101 points, but Toyota’s strength is that it is not leaning on one driver. Takamoto Katsuta is right behind on 99. Sami Pajari has 72. Sébastien Ogier, even with a partial campaign, is on 58 after winning in the Canary Islands. That depth is the story — Toyota keeps showing up with multiple ways to win. ### Why is Ogier such a big part of this? Because Portugal is one of his places. Toyota is highlighting him as a major threat this week, and that makes sense — he has won this rally seven times. On a rough gravel event where experience matters, Ogier is not just another extra car in the lineup. He is a specialist who can turn Toyota’s strong position into another weekend of control. ### So why isn’t this already over? Because gravel changes the math. Asphalt rewards precision and confidence, but Portugal adds loose surfaces, cleaning effects, rock exposure, and tire wear. The catch is road position — fast championship leaders often have to sweep the road on Friday, which can cost time. That gives rivals a real opening even if Toyota still has the best overall package. ### What does “road sweeping” really mean? Think of the first car on the road as the one doing the broom work for everyone else. On loose gravel, that driver clears away the top layer and leaves a cleaner line behind, which can help the cars starting later. Evans, as points leader, could feel that most. So Toyota’s dominance is real — but Portugal is one of the places where the championship leader can be made to pay for it. ### Who needs this rally most? Hyundai and M-Sport Ford need Portugal to interrupt the pattern. If Toyota wins again, the season starts looking less like a title fight and more like a race for second. A gravel rally is one of the better chances to land that punch, because reliability, punctures, and stage conditions can scramble the order fast. That is the opening everyone else is hoping for. ### Bottom line? Toyota is not just arriving in Portugal as the favorite. Toyota is arriving with the season already tilted in its favor. But Portugal is the kind of rally that exposes weak spots fast — and if the rest of the field is going to slow this championship down, this is the place to start.