Evans takes overnight WRC Rally Portugal lead

Elfyn Evans, Toyota, leads the way after the first stage of the World Rally Championship’s Rally Portugal after a single stage lined-up the opening day.

Feature image credit: Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content Pool

The WRC was back in action on Thursday, for the fifth round of the championship, and a single Super Special Stage, Figueira da Foz, a 2.94km test, kicked off the action. 

WRC’s championship leader, Evans set the pace early on to give the Welshman the overnight rally lead ahead of his fellow teammate, and eight-time world champion, Sebastien Ogier. 

M-Sports Martins Sesks returned to the fold this weekend for his second event of his part-time schedule with the team. Despite having time out of the seat, Sesks was the fastest Ford Puma out on stage.

Entry List revealed: 2025 WRC Rally Portugal

How did the order shape up after the first day?

Evans topped the rally order after the first single stage with a time of 2m 18.1s, and it stands as a provisional Toyota 1-2 with Ogier in second, 0.2 seconds of the pace. 

Hyundai filled in the gap from third to fifth with Ott Tanak setting an identical time with Ogier, occupying third, with Adrien Fourmaux and Thierry Neuville filling the void in fourth and fifth.

As such, Toyota’s Kalle Rovanpera, Takamoto Katsuta and Sami Pajari finished sixth, seventh and eighth, respectively. 

This left Nikolay Gryazin, in the WRC2 category, and M-Sport Ford’s Sesks to round out the top 10.

Joshua McErlean and Gregoire Munster completed the Rally1 runners down in 17th and 18th. 

The action continues on Friday with 10 stages to be completed across the second day.

Read more WRC here:

• Entry List revealed: 2025 WRC Rally Portugal
• EA reaches the ‘end of the road’ with WRC.
• Rovanpera wins WRC Rally Islas Canarias ahead of Ogier and Evans
• Rovanpera claims victory in WRC Rally Islas Canarias
• Joshua McErlean crashes on opening Sunday WRC stage Rally Islas Canarias
• Kalle Rovanpera commands second day of WRC Rally Islas Canarias

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Kamron Kent

Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.

I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

Kamron Kent

Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.