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Sebastian Ogier Secures Record Sixth Rally of Portugal Victory
The incredible accomplishment of Sebastien Ogier, who drives for Toyota, was to win the Rally of Portugal for an unprecedented sixth time. This achievement solidified his position as one of the sport’s most legendary drivers. Following a fierce competition with Ott Tanak of Hyundai, Ogier emerged victorious by a margin of 7.9 seconds. This victory came after a battle that was waged with great effort.
This historic achievement sees Ogier surpassing the previous record holder, Finnish rally great Markku Alen, with whom he previously shared the accolade. As an eight-time world champion, Ogier’s dominance in the Rally of Portugal further solidifies his legacy in the sport.
Despite competing only part-time now, Ogier showcased his exceptional skill and determination throughout the rally, seizing the lead on Saturday after teammate and reigning champion Kalle Rovanpera encountered difficulties.
Entering the final 62.18km stage on Sunday, Ogier held an 11.9-second advantage over Tanak, who led the standings on the day and currently sits third overall in the championship standings.
Reflecting on his victory, Ogier expressed satisfaction with his performance, stating, “It was not a great weekend for the whole team, but it was a good rally for us and I am glad we could bring some points.”
In the overall championship standings, Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville secured third place, extending his lead over Toyota’s Elfyn Evans by 24 points after five rounds.
Neuville’s performance was bolstered by a strong showing in the Power Stage, where he garnered five additional points. Meanwhile, Adrien Fourmaux claimed fourth place for M-Sport Ford, followed by Hyundai’s Dani Sordo in fifth.
The Rally of Portugal also saw a shift in the manufacturers’ standings, with Hyundai overtaking Toyota to claim the top spot with 219 points.
With the next round of the world championship set to take place in Sardinia from May 30 to June 2, the competition promises to intensify as drivers and teams vie for supremacy on the challenging terrain.
