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How Sebastien Ogierâs near-perfect Rally Portugal unravelled in one puncture
TL;DR
SĂ©bastien Ogier lost a potential Rally Portugal victory due to a puncture in the penultimate stage, costing him two minutes. Despite leading by 21.9 seconds, luck ran out for the nine-time world champion.
Key points
- SĂ©bastien Ogier lost a likely victory due to a puncture.
- He had a 21.9-second lead before the final stages.
- The puncture required a wheel change and cost him two minutes.
- Sami Pajari also experienced a puncture in the same stage.
Mentioned in this story
SĂ©bastien OgierSami Pajari
Motorsport photo
SĂ©bastien Ogier admitted it was âhard to acceptâ losing a likely World Rally Championship victory in Portugal after running âout of luckâ 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 Sundayâs 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
Sebastien Ogier, Vincent Landais, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
Ogier managed to bring his GR Yaris home in sixth overall, as Hyundaiâs Thierry Neuville inherited the rally lead, and went on to claim a 23rd career victory, ending his teamâs 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.
âI feel as well that [co-driver] Vincent [Landais] and I deserve much better than this, but that is part of the game in motorsport,â Ogier told Motorsport.com.
Q&A
What happened to SĂ©bastien Ogier during Rally Portugal?
SĂ©bastien Ogier suffered a puncture in the penultimate stage, which forced him to change a wheel and resulted in a two-minute time loss.
How did the puncture affect Ogier's standings in the rally?
The puncture caused Ogier to lose his lead and ultimately miss out on what could have been his eighth Rally Portugal victory.
What was Ogier's lead before the puncture in Rally Portugal?
Ogier had a 21.9-second lead going into the final stages of the rally before the puncture occurred.
Did any other drivers experience issues during the same stage as Ogier?
Yes, third-placed Sami Pajari also suffered a puncture in the same location as Ogier during the penultimate stage.
