Sébastien Ogier admitted it was “hard to accept” losing a likely World Rally Championship victory in Portugal after running “out of luck” with a penultimate stage puncture.
The nine-time world champion produced a wet weather masterclass in treacherous conditions on Saturday to take a 21.9s lead into Sunday’s final four stages, and was seemingly on course for a eighth career Rally Portugal win.
However, any hope of victory vanished when Ogier picked up a right rear puncture in the penultimate stage that required a wheel change and the loss of two minutes. It proved to be a double blow for the Toyota team as third-placed Sami Pajari also suffered a puncture in the same place.
Sebastien Ogier, Vincent Landais, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
Photo by: Toyota Racing
Ogier managed to bring his GR Yaris home in sixth overall, as Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville inherited the rally lead, and went on to claim a 23rd career victory, ending his team’s wait for win since November 2025.
After delivering a vintage display in some of the worst conditions Rally Portugal has served up in recent years, Ogier admitted witnessing his hard work vanish in an instant was tough to take.
“I feel as well that [co-driver] Vincent [Landais] and I deserve much better than this, but that is part of the game in motorsport,” Ogier told Autosport.com.
“Unfortunately we ran out of luck today, there is no other explanation for this puncture. We were all driving in the same line I’m pretty sure, as there is only one line in the ruts and the sand and the narrow rocks.
“We have seen these little rocks and it looks like it was ok for most of us but myself and Sami [Pajari] picked up punctures there. It was very early into this long stage so there was no other option than stopping to change the wheel and we had to forget any hope of getting a good result.”
Sébastien Ogier, Vincent Landais, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
Photo by: Toyota Racing
After producing some of his finest driving in challenging conditions this weekend, the 42-year-old was proud to prove that he still has the speed to fight at the top of the sport.
“There are many reasons to keep the head up today for sure. We cannot hide that it always hits you when you get such bad luck after the hard work we did this week, where we did everything we had to do to get through these tough conditions,” added Ogier.
“We got very close to the victory, it is hard to accept right now. I have been long enough in the sport right now to know that is the way it is.
“I have to put that behind me and go to Japan with the guarantee that I still have the speed to fight at the front anywhere and anytime. That is a good reason to keep the head up.”
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– The Autosport.com Team
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