WRC
Stage Guide: Vodafone Rally de Portugal
Round five of the 2025 season, Vodafone Rally de Portugal blends fast gravel roads, passionate fans and legendary stages into one of the WRC’s most iconic events. Here’s what lies ahead.
SS1 SSS Figueira da Foz (2.94km)
Vodafone Rally de Portugal kicks off with a spectacular Super Special Stage in Figueira da Foz. Set beside the iconic Forte de Santa Catarina, the route transforms the seafront parking area into a purpose-built arena, delivering an electrifying atmosphere. Fans can enjoy the action from natural grandstands overlooking the stage, with the stunning Atlantic Ocean providing a dramatic backdrop.
SS2/SS9 Mortágua (14.59km)
This fast and flowing stage runs along a well-maintained gravel road flanked by the region’s distinctive eucalyptus trees. It’s a technical challenge that demands a fine balance between outright speed and precision, with the potential to create meaningful gaps in the leaderboard.
SS3/SS6 Lousã (12.28km)
After a two-decade absence, Rally de Portugal made its return to Lousã in 2019. Set in the wooded hills surrounding the town, this classic stage is tight, technical, and unforgiving, winding its way through dense forest. It finishes with a spectacular descent packed with hairpins, dropping down towards the village of Lousã.
SS4/SS7 Goís (14.30km)
The Góis stage returns in identical form to 2024, retaining all the natural beauty and spectacular character of previous editions. Fast and demanding from start to finish, there's no room for error - or for admiring the scenery. The iconic Sobral hairpin punctuates the final descent, delivering one last adrenaline hit for the crews.
SS5/SS8 Arganil (14.41km)
A classic feature on Rally de Portugal’s itinerary, Arganil weaves through the slopes of the Serra do Açor with intensity and rhythm, where emotion and risk go hand in hand. While modern safety measures - like protective guard rails - have been added to the most exposed sections, the challenge remains unforgiving. Even the smallest mistake here could prove costly to a crew’s hopes.
WRC Vodafone Rally de Portugal (Arganil)
© WRC
SS10 Águeda / Sever (15.08km)
Vodafone Rally de Portugal celebrates its 58th edition with an expanded presence in Portugal’s central region, strengthening the event’s deep-rooted connection to an area that hosted the WRC between 1995 and 1999. This stage delivers a demanding test of skill, culminating inside the Sever do Vouga rallycross circuit, where the final metres unfold in front of what’s sure to be a passionate crowd.
SS11 Sever / Albergaria (20.24km)
The Sever do Vouga and Albergaria-a-Velha region returns to the Rally de Portugal itinerary with a stage reminiscent of those run between 1995 and 1999 - albeit now tackled in the opposite direction. First used in 1974 under the name Monte Telégrafo, this classic test features the iconic forest guard house spectator area, a fan favourite thanks to its technical complexity and outstanding visibility. Expect it to draw a massive crowd once again.
SS12/SS15 Vieira do Minho (17.69km)
Starting near the Sanctuary of Senhora da Fé and finishing in the village of Anjos, crews will need to tread carefully on the high-speed sections, with the majestic Serra do Gerês watching over their every move. After a brief stretch of asphalt in the Serradela area, the stage transitions into the more traditional terrain of the Serra da Cabreira - complete with jumps to keep drivers on their toes.
SS13/SS16 Cabeceiras de Basto (19.91km)
Widely regarded as one of the most beautiful stages of Vodafone Rally de Portugal, this reworked and even more competitive version could prove decisive in the outcome of the event. While it shares some terrain with the old route, the demanding gravel surface and technical complexity lead into a completely new finish section.
SS14/SS17 Amarante (22.10km)
Since 2015, the iconic Amarante stage has remained the longest test of Vodafone Rally de Portugal - and one of its most revered. A true classic, it features legendary sections like the Fridão hairpin, the Guinea Bridge, and the Sapinha hairpin - first tackled back in 1969. This is the stage where, in 2017, Ott Tänak - then leading - struck a rock and lost the lead to Sébastien Ogier, who went on to equal Markku Alén’s long-standing record of five Rally Portugal victories.
SS18 SSS Lousada (3.52km)
The iconic Costilha rallycross track in Lousada has long played host to thrilling battles in world motorsport. As the sun sets, it welcomes the crews for a fan-favourite head-to-head showdown on parallel tracks over 3.52km. It’s a spectacular and unmissable way to wrap up the second day of Vodafone Rally de Portugal.
SS19/SS22 Paredes (16.09km)
The Paredes stage returns in the same format as 2024, incorporating sections previously used during the Shakedown. Starting and finishing in the same location, the route features a mix of narrow stretches and fast, flowing roads through the forest - offering a varied and demanding challenge on the final day of the rally.
SS20/SS23 Felgueiras (8.81km)
After a 23-year absence, Rally de Portugal returned to Felgueiras in 2021. This stage runs entirely around the Santa Quitéria hill, offering a true forest rollercoaster. It blends high-speed sections with technically demanding stretches, delivering a stern test of car control and commitment.
SS21/SS24 Fafe (11.18km)
Known as “The Cathedral of Rallies” in Portugal, this legendary 11.18km stage is steeped in tradition and atmosphere. It features two of the rally’s most iconic landmarks: the asphalt crossing at Confurco and the famous Pedra Sentada jump, which provides a spectacular finale. Thousands of passionate fans flock here - staking out the best viewing spots from the afternoon before. The energy builds into a full-blown celebration that lasts until the final car clears the stage, which fittingly serves as this year’s Wolf Power Stage.
Stage impressions
WRC Vodafone Rally de Portugal stage
© WRC
WRC Vodafone Rally de Portugal stage
© WRC
WRC Vodafone Rally de Portugal stage
© WRC
WRC Vodafone Rally de Portugal stage
© WRC
