The program for the 2026 WRC Rally of Portugal

This week, the World Rally Championship heads to Portugal for its sixth round of the season. A key event on the calendar, the rally is renowned for being difficult, demanding, and grueling for both cars and competitors. Putting aside the Rally Kenya, with its unique profile, makes the Rally of Portugal the first real event of the WRC 2026 on Earth. Following this rally, the World Rally Championship competitors will head to Japan at the end of May for the final asphalt event of the season, before embarking on the second half of the calendar, which is entirely gravel-based and begins at the end of June in Greece. Portugal is therefore much more than just another round on the calendar: it's a true turning point in the championship, which will once again have a packed schedule.

The days at Rally Portugal will be long and intense. After the Shakedown on Wednesday, May 6th, and the first leg of three special stages on Thursday, May 7th, the competitors will face a marathon day on Friday, May 8th. A unique feature of this leg is that it will not include a return to the service area in Matosinhos between the two loops. Instead, a remote service area will be set up in Arganil, thus limiting the potential for mechanical interventions. Crews will therefore need to exercise extreme caution on Friday morning if they hope to reach the outskirts of Porto by evening. The following day, they will have to get up at the crack of dawn to start the day (8:00 AM French time, 7:00 AM local time), and it will conclude with a Super Special Stage at 20:05 PM French time, 19:05 PM Portuguese time. It goes without saying that the competitors will have to conserve energy before the final stretch of the rally on Sunday, May 10, and in particular, the two passes through the legendary Fafe special stage which attracts a large number of spectators every year.

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From a sporting perspective, the usual WRC competitors will be present, as well as Dani Sordo and Candido Carrera. Hyundai, that Mārtiņš Sesks – Renārs Francis at M-Sport Ford and that Sébastien Ogier – Vincent Landais at ToyotaThe reigning World Champions won the Canary Islands Rally two weeks ago and triumphed in Portugal last year, one of the successes that helped them secure the title despite a partial season. In WRC2 as well, the championship's major contenders will be present, including several French crews led by Yohan Rossel and Arnaud Dunand, winners in the Canary Islands and Croatia. Finally, it's worth noting that the Rally of Portugal is the third round of the Junior WRC, the first rally of the season on gravel for the discipline's up-and-coming talents: seven crews will be vying for victory in this category.

The Rally of Portugal will be covered in its entirety all weekend on AUTOhebdo.fr, with live text commentary. The updated entry list for the Rally of Portugal is now available. HERE].

WRC 2026 – Rally Portugal
The complete weekend program

Thursday May 7
16h05 - SS1: Águeda / Sever – 15,08 km (Canal+ Sport 360)
17h05 - SS2: Sever / Albergaria – 20,24 km (Canal+ Sport 360)
19h05 - SS3: Figueira da Foz – 1,93 km (Canal+ Sport 360)
Friday May 8
8h35 - SS4: Mortágua 1 – 14,59 km (Canal+ Sport)
9h55 - SS5: Arganil 1 – 18,62 km (Canal+ Sport)
11h13 - SS6: Lousã 1 – 7,07 km (Canal+ Sport)
13h30 - SS7: Arganil 2 – 18,62 km (Canal+ Sport)
14h25 - SS8: Góis – 15,66 km (Canal+ Sport)
15h08 - SS9: Lousã 2 – 7,07 km (Canal+ Sport)
16h45 - SS10: Mortágua 2 – 14,59 km (Canal+ Sport)
Saturday May 9
8h00 - SS11: Felgueiras 1 – 8,81 km (Canal+ Sport)
9h05 - SS12: Cabeceiras de Basto 1 – 19,91 km (Canal+ Sport)
10h35 - SS13: Amarante 1 – 26,24 km (Canal+ Sport)
12h05 - SS14: Paredes 1 – 16,09 km (Canal+ Sport)
15h00 - SS15: Felgueiras 2 – 8,81 km (Canal+ Live)
16h05 - SS16: Cabeceiras de Basto 2 – 19,91 km (Canal+ Live)
17h35 - SS17: Amarante 2 – 26,24 km (Canal+ Sport 360)
19h05 - SS18: Paredes 2 – 16,09 km (Canal+ Sport)
20h05 - SS19: Lousada – 3,78 km (Canal+ Sport)
Sunday, May 10
9h05 - SS20: Vieira do Minho 1 – 21,60 km (Canal+ Sport)
10h35 - SS21: Fafe 1 – 11,18 km (Canal+ Sport)
11h35 - SS22: Vieira do Minho 2 – 21,60 km (Canal+ Sport)
14h15 - SS23: Fafe 2 – 11,18 km (Canal+ Sport 360)