Solberg Responds in SS19 as Ogier Stays Safe

Oliver Solberg ended Saturday at Rally Portugal 2026 on a positive note after setting the fastest time on SS19 SSS Lousada. However, Sébastien Ogier remained firmly in control of the rally by adopting a cautious approach during the final stage of the day.

The short 3.78-kilometre superspecial stage at the Lousada rallycross circuit took place in extreme conditions after heavy rain continued to hit the area throughout the afternoon. The surface turned into deep mud with extremely low grip levels, creating major challenges even on the relatively short stage.

Drama arrived immediately in the opening heat when Ford driver Josh McErlean lost control in the muddy section and crashed front-first into the barriers. The incident forced the Irish driver to stop and retire from the stage.

Baca JugaSolberg Bangkit di SS19, Ogier Tetap Aman

Solberg handled the difficult conditions effectively and recorded the fastest stage time, beating Ogier by 3.5 seconds. The Toyota driver finally gained some consolation after a difficult afternoon that included both a puncture and a spin, which ended his hopes of fighting for victory.

Ogier chose a more conservative strategy to protect the advantage of more than 20 seconds he had built earlier in the day. The eight-time world champion avoided unnecessary risks on the muddy surface while still finishing second fastest on SS19.

“An incredible afternoon in those conditions. Luckily we managed to get through it. Overall it was a good day for us. It probably was not the best show for the fans because it was mostly about surviving the sliding,” said Ogier.

Sami Pajari continued his strong form by setting the third-fastest stage time. The young Toyota driver maintained his provisional podium position and now trails Thierry Neuville by only 3.9 seconds in the battle for second overall.

The fight for the podium is expected to become one of the key storylines on Sunday, particularly as weather forecasts continue to predict slippery and unpredictable conditions. Pajari has steadily improved his pace throughout the weekend and now holds a realistic chance of finishing as runner-up.

Meanwhile, Takamoto Katsuta strongly criticized the stage conditions after witnessing McErlean’s accident. The Japanese driver believed the amount of mud on certain sections left drivers with almost no control.

“I feel sorry for Josh. What can you do in that situation? Nothing, because the corner was completely full of mud. It is ridiculous,” said Katsuta.

Pos	Driver	Car	Time
1	Sébastien Ogier	Toyota	3:09:13.3
2	Thierry Neuville	Hyundai	+21.9
3	Sami Pajari	Toyota	+25.8
4	Oliver Solberg	Toyota	+49.6
5	Elfyn Evans	Toyota	+58.2
6	Adrien Fourmaux	Hyundai	+1:23.8
7	Takamoto Katsuta	Toyota	+1:35.3
8	Dani Sordo	Hyundai	+3:44.7
9	Martins Sesks	Ford	+6:47.7
10	Teemu Suninen	Toyota	+9:17.8

Sunday Rally Portugal 2026 schedule (Western Indonesia Time):

Stage	Name	Distance	Time
SS20	Vieira do Minho 1	21.60 km	16:05 WIB
SS21	Fafe 1	11.18 km	17:35 WIB
SS22	Vieira do Minho 2	21.60 km	18:35 WIB
SS23	Fafe 2 Power Stage	11.18 km	21:15 WIB

Rally Portugal now heads into its decisive final day with Ogier holding the strongest position to secure victory. However, the podium fight between Neuville and Pajari, combined with continuing unstable weather conditions, is expected to maintain intense pressure all the way to the Fafe Power Stage on Sunday.