SS22 Rally Portugal 2026: Sami Pajari and Sebastien Ogier Crushed by Puncture Drama

Sami Pajari and Sebastien Ogier suffered a disastrous collapse on SS22 of Rally Portugal 2026 after both Toyota Gazoo Racing drivers were hit by punctures on the penultimate Vieira do Minho 2 stage on Sunday (10/5/2026).

The 21.60-kilometre stage once again produced brutal gravel conditions after continuous rain swept across Portugal throughout the weekend. The surface was filled with large rocks and deep mud, creating some of the harshest conditions seen during the rally.

Pajari became the first major victim after striking a large rock positioned directly on the racing line near the beginning of the stage. The Finnish driver was forced to stop and change the tyre, costing him a huge amount of time.

Baca JugaThierry Neuville Menang Rally Portugal 2026 Setelah Drama Ban Toyota

As a result, Pajari dropped from third overall down to seventh position, nearly three minutes behind the rally leader. The setback effectively destroyed what had previously looked like a strong podium opportunity for the young Toyota driver.

“There was an unbelievably big rock right in the middle of the racing line. The puncture came immediately from that. There was nothing I could do. Honestly, I do not think I could have done anything differently,” Pajari explained.

An even bigger shock followed shortly afterwards when Ogier suffered the exact same fate. The eight-time world champion also had to stop and change a tyre after hitting rocks near the beginning of the stage, despite previously appearing on course for a record-extending eighth Rally Portugal victory.

The puncture completely destroyed Ogier’s momentum and dropped the Frenchman dramatically down the overall classification to sixth place.

“There were rocks on the line and everywhere at the start of the stage. We hit something,” Ogier said briefly.

The double Toyota disaster instantly transformed the entire rally. Thierry Neuville inherited the overall lead for Hyundai Motorsport and now heads into the Fafe Power Stage with a 14.8-second advantage.

The drama also created a major opportunity for Oliver Solberg, who climbed to second overall after avoiding the problems that struck his Toyota team-mates. Elfyn Evans also moved into the provisional podium positions in third place.

“Nothing has been achieved yet. So far we have only done our job, but there is still one stage left. At least now we know how not to drive it,” Neuville joked, referencing his previous heartbreak while leading Rally Croatia.

Following the chaos on SS22, Adrien Fourmaux now occupies fourth overall ahead of Takamoto Katsuta. Hyundai suddenly finds itself in a strong position to steal a victory that had previously looked almost certain to remain with Toyota.

Rally Portugal 2026 now heads into its final stage, the iconic Fafe Power Stage. However, with the roads still rough and filled with exposed rocks, further drama remains highly possible until the final kilometres of the rally.

Rally Portugal 2026 standings after SS22/23:
1. Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) – 3:46:09.0
2. Oliver Solberg (Toyota) +14.8
3. Elfyn Evans (Toyota) +27.7
4. Adrien Fourmaux (Hyundai) +55.4
5. Takamoto Katsuta (Toyota) +1:09.7
6. Sebastien Ogier (Toyota) +1:23.9
7. Sami Pajari (Toyota) +2:43.1
8. Dani Sordo (Hyundai) +3:53.3
9. Martins Sesks (Ford) +6:28.9
10. Teemu Suninen (Toyota) +10:36.7