WRC
Neuville: Portugal win gives Hyundai belief again
Thierry Neuville says his Vodafone Rally de Portugal victory has restored belief inside Hyundai Motorsport after a frustrating start to the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship season.
The Belgian and co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe claimed Hyundai’s first win of the year on Sunday, ending Toyota Gazoo Racing’s unbeaten run after a dramatic final morning in northern Portugal.
Neuville moved into the lead when long-time rally leader Sébastien Ogier stopped to change a wheel on the penultimate stage, but the 2024 world champion was keen to look beyond the late drama. For him, the real significance was Hyundai’s ability to stay in the fight throughout a punishing gravel weekend.
“More than the victory, which is definitely very important for the team because they desperately needed it, I think to see that the performance was there throughout the whole weekend is probably the most encouraging thing,” Neuville said.
“We can fight on a continuous basis at the top level. I was able to manage my rally a little bit as well and that’s the key. If you want to win rallies, you need to be able to build your weekend and manage your weekend.
“You can only do that when the car works, the confidence is there and the feeling is there. Otherwise, it’s just not possible.”
Portugal marked Neuville’s 23rd WRC victory and his second on the Matosinhos-based event, eight years after his 2018 success. It also arrived after a difficult opening sequence to the season, including his Croatia Rally crash while leading and no podium finishes from the first five rounds.
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For Neuville, there was a personal element to the result.
“Personally, for me it’s a bit of revenge,” he admitted. “I gave back what I should have given to the team in Croatia, for sure.
“For the team it was definitely very important. It will give a good boost. For them to see that we can still win is very motivating.”
Sunday’s final stages were far from straightforward. Heavy rain continued to influence conditions around Vieira do Minho and Fafe, while rocks and ruts caught out several of Neuville’s rivals.
Ogier and Sami Pajari both punctured on Vieira do Minho 2, while Neuville survived the same section and carried a 14.8sec lead over Oliver Solberg into the final Wolf Power Stage.
There was also a race against the weather. Neuville said the first drops of rain arrived on the start line of the final stage before easing, only for heavier rain to return shortly after he had reached the finish.
“I had to drive fast because I knew that if the rain came, we could easily lose 10 or 15 seconds over three or four kilometres of the stage,” he said. “So I drove reasonably fast, not too fast.
“We crossed the finish line and two minutes later it was pouring down. So it was pretty close.”
Toyota still leads both championships comfortably and Elfyn Evans extended his drivers’ championship advantage to 12 points by finishing third in Portugal.
But Neuville believes the gravel events ahead can give Hyundai further opportunities, provided the team continues to build on the progress shown last weekend.
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“To always be at the top, you need the best package,” he said. “For the moment, Toyota has the best package. They are also more numerous than we are.
“But we have something, I think. On some of the events we can fight, like here, on a continuous basis for victory.
“Japan will be a tough one, but from Greece onwards, hopefully we will be strong.
“The rally has shown us this weekend that we need to carry on believing and working hard,” Neuville added. “Not giving up, and then we get the payback.”
