May 16, 2025 – Portugal
Day 2 of the Vodafone Rally de Portugal 2025 delivered a full-throttle dose of excitement, strategy, and unexpected twists. On the gravel-laced Portuguese stages, the battle for supremacy between Hyundai and Toyota intensified, with both teams trading punches throughout the day.
Highs and Lows for Hyundai
The day kicked off promisingly for Adrien Fourmaux, who led the charge for Hyundai in the morning stages. However, misfortune struck during SS8, when Fourmaux hit a rock that caused critical suspension damage, forcing him to retire from the day’s action.
But Hyundai’s hopes weren’t dashed for long. Ott Tänak stepped up and put in a commanding performance to ensure that Hyundai finished Day 2 on top of the leaderboard.
“We are trying our best, but Toyotas have a numbers advantage. The stages are quite challenging, but we will push,”
— Thierry Neuville, Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT
Ford’s Effort Falls Short
Ford showed flashes of potential but lacked the consistency to stay with the front pack. Despite pushing hard, the team couldn’t convert effort into a podium spot.
Day 2 Top Standings
- Ott Tänak – Hyundai
- Sébastien Ogier – Toyota
- Takamoto Katsuta – Toyota
- Kalle Rovanperä – Toyota
- Thierry Neuville – Hyundai
- Sami Pajari – Toyota Gazoo Racing Next Gen
- Elfyn Evans – Toyota
What’s Next?
With Toyota dominating the top seven with five entries, Hyundai’s challenge now lies in breaking the numerical stronghold. Can Tänak hold off a swarm of Yaris Rally1 cars on Saturday? Or will Toyota’s strength in numbers prove too much?
Saturday promises to be a showdown — grit, gravel, and glory on the line. Stay tuned to rallyfanatics.com for full coverage.
Rally Fanatics 
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