Ogier holds overnight lead after mastering mud in Portugal

Sébastien Ogier leads Rally Portugal heading into the final day following a commanding performance in testing conditions. The Toyota driver overcame a brief challenge from Oliver Solberg during the morning loops, responding to deteriorating weather by extending his advantage throughout a demanding Saturday afternoon.

After reclaiming the lead following the mid-day service, Ogier excelled on the muddy Amarante stage, building a cushion over his rivals. Thierry Neuville, currently second for Hyundai, struggled to match the Frenchman’s pace as the rain intensified. Meanwhile, Oliver Solberg dropped out of the immediate fight for the win after suffering a tyre issue on the Cabeceiras de Basto test, ultimately falling to fourth overall.

Sami Pajari rounds out the top three, maintaining a consistent pace to hold the final podium spot for Toyota. As teams prepare for Sunday’s conclusion, the field faces two passes of Vieira do Minho and the final Wolf Power Stage on the iconic Fafe test. M-Sport Ford endured a challenging day with several incidents, though all crews involved reported being safe.