It wasn't just Sébastien Ogier who made history this year at the Vodafone Rally de Portugal. Toyota became the most victorious manufacturer in the 57-year history of the Portuguese event, with nine wins.
First held in 1967, and part of the founding events of the FIA World Rally Championship in 1973, the Vodafone Rally de Portugal has a rich history, including different eras of champions and emblematic machines that have shone on the Portuguese stretches.
However, this year's edition was also special because two historic records were broken: the most wins by a driver, by Sébastien Ogier (eight), and the most wins by a brand, Toyota (nine).
The Japanese brand arrived in Portugal with four consecutive victories (through Ott Tänak, Elfyn Evans and Kalle Rovanperä, the latter twice), which had allowed it to match the eight victories of Lancia and Citroën. Ogier 'tried' to break the tie and give his ninth win to Toyota, whose WRC and Rally1 versions of the Yaris GR are the winningest cars in the modern era of the World Championship. Before the Yaris, Toyota had already won in Portugal with the Corolla WRC (Didier Auriol in 2002) and the Celica GT Four (Carlos Sainz in 1991, Juha Kankkunen in 1994 and Rui Madeira in 1996). It should be noted that eight of these nine victories came in World Championship events.
Time machines
On the other hand, Lancia machines have won the Rally de Portugal in different periods spanning four decades: Tony Fall (1968) and Simo Lampinen (1970) won with the Fulvia, Sandro Munari (1976) with the Stratos, Markku Alén (1987), Miki Biasion (1988, 1989 and 1990) and Juha Kankkunen (1992), all with the all-wheel drive versions of the Delta.
Citroën is also on the winning podium thanks to Francisco Romãozinho (1969, with the DS Proto), Armindo Araújo (2003 and 2004, with the Saxo Kit-Car), Sébastien Loeb (2007 and 2009, with the C4 WRC), Sébastien Ogier (2010 with the C4 WRC and 2011 with the DS3 WRC) and Kris Meeke (2016 with the DS3 WRC).
Further behind are Fiat, with six wins, and Ford, with five.
First held in 1967, and part of the founding events of the FIA World Rally Championship in 1973, the Vodafone Rally de Portugal has a rich history, including different eras of champions and emblematic machines that have shone on the Portuguese stages.
However, this year's edition was also special because two historic records were broken: the most wins by a driver, by Sébastien Ogier (eight), and the most wins by a manufacturer, Toyota (nine).
The Japanese brand arrived in Portugal with four consecutive victories (through Ott Tänak, Elfyn Evans and Kalle Rovanperä, the latter twice), which had allowed it to match the eight victories of Lancia and Citroën. Ogier 'broke' the tie and gave Toyota his ninth win. The WRC and Rally1 versions of the Yaris GR are the winningest cars in the modern era of the World Rally Championship, but Toyota had already won in Portugal with the Corolla WRC (Didier Auriol in 2002) and the Celica GT Four (Carlos Sainz in 1991, Juha Kankkunen in 1994 and Rui Madeira in 1996). It should be noted that eight of these nine victories came in World Championship events.
Time machines
On the other hand, Lancia machines have won the Rally de Portugal in different periods spanning four decades: Tony Fall (1968) and Simo Lampinen (1970) won with the Fulvia, Sandro Munari (1976) with the Stratos, Markku Alén (1987), Miki Biasion (1988, 1989 and 1990) and Juha Kankkunen (1992), all with the all-wheel drive versions of the Delta.
Citroën is also on the winning podium thanks to Francisco Romãozinho (1969, with the DS Proto), Armindo Araújo (2003 and 2004, with the Saxo Kit-Car), Sébastien Loeb (2007 and 2009, with the C4 WRC), Sébastien Ogier (2010 with the C4 WRC and 2011 with the DS3 WRC) and Kris Meeke (2016 with the DS3 WRC).
Further behind are Fiat, with six wins, and Ford, with five.