Sport news Rally de Portugal (15th–18th May 2025) presents the first gravel challenge for the FIA Rally Star crews, with the event marking Romet Jürgenson’s third WRC2 appearance and the second Junior WRC challenge for Taylor Gill and Max Smart. Since its debut in 1973, Rally de Portugal has become one of the most revered events in the WRC calendar, known for its rich history and demanding conditions. Featuring 24 stages covering 344.50 km of some of the most rugged and unpredictable gravel roads, the rally offers everything from soft, loose surfaces to deeply rutted sections that test a driver’s ability to adapt on the fly. For the FIA Rally Star trio of Romet Jürgenson/Siim Oja, Taylor Gill/Dan Brkic, and Max Smart/Malcolm Read, this will be a true test of their capabilities. Competing in both Junior WRC and WRC2, the drivers will face fierce competition as they target top results. Each is eager to build on the lessons they’ve learned so far this season and make their mark on one of the sport’s most prestigious events. Romet Jürgenson back on gravel for WRC2 development Romet Jürgenson has been steadily gaining experience in Rally2 machinery. After cutting his teeth on snow in Sweden, he delivered a string of strong results in the British Rally Championship, along with flashes of brilliance at Rally Islas Canarias. The reigning Junior WRC champion now returns to the surface where he feels most at home. Despite a challenging start to their second WRC2 outing at Rally Islas Canarias, the Estonian duo improved consistently throughout the event. They now aim to convert that experience into clean, competitive stage times on Portugal’s, shifting gravel roads, a surface with which Jürgenson is particularly familiar. Rally Portugal will mark his second gravel event in a Rally2 car, and every kilometre driven here provides valuable data as he continues to adapt to the limits of the Fiesta Rally2 on loose surfaces. The WRC2 field is set to be one of the most competitive in recent years, with over 45 entries; Jürgenson is looking to build pace across the weekend and show his speed on gravel as he continues progressing in Rally2 machinery. Gill looks to translate ice victory into gravel pace After a commanding victory on the ice in Rally Sweden, Taylor Gill arrives in Portugal full of confidence as the Junior WRC heads to its first gravel test of the season. In the lead‑up to the event, he completed two days of testing in Portugal and tackled the Rali Terras d’Aboboreira, a round of the FIA European Rally Trophy. Gaining invaluable experience on soft, shifting surfaces without the pressure of fighting for the championship. With his M‑Sport team, Gill has been focused on fine‑tuning his setup to suit Portugal’s notoriously demanding stages. With momentum on his side and a solid foundation in place, he is aiming to deliver another strong result and continue his push for the Junior WRC title. Max Smart returns to gravel with fresh focus and new co-driver for Rally Portugal Junior WRC contender Max Smart heads into Rally Portugal with renewed confidence and a fresh co-driver partnership, teaming up with Malcolm Read for the first time. After a tough outing in Sweden, Smart has been hard at work training in Scotland, analysing data, and sharpening his skills across a variety of low-grip conditions. With a strong background in motocross and a clear preference for gravel, the South African driver feels at home on the loose surface and is eager to put lessons learned in Sweden into action. With his only dropped score of the season now behind him, Smart knows a clean and consistent result in Portugal is crucial to keeping his title hopes alive. FIA Rally Star Project Leader Jérôme Roussel said: “ Rally Portugal presents a real test of endurance, precision and adaptability, exactly the kind of challenge our FIA Rally Star drivers need at this stage in their development. Taylor arrives with winning momentum and growing maturity, while Romet continues to impress with his pace and work ethic in Rally2. Max has taken important steps forward in recent weeks, and the new partnership with Malcolm is already showing promise. Each of them is focused on building experience, delivering clean stages, and continuing the learning process. Portugal will be another key milestone in their journey.” Romet Jürgenson stated: “We learned a lot in the Canaries, especially about tyre strategy and car preservation over long, rough stages. Portugal’s 344km of gravel is a big task, there’s so much that can happen over four days. Our first aim is simply to finish every stage without damage, soak up as much experience as possible, and refine our notes for each pass. If we can then show some pace on stages like Vieira do Minho and the Fafe Power Stage, we’ll know our gravel programme is working.” Taylor Gill commented: “ Winning in Sweden gave me huge confidence, I proved I can manage a lead under pressure. Here in Portugal, the goal is to take that composure onto gravel. The roads are softer, the ruts deeper. But I love that challenge. I’m incredibly excited for Portugal, the crowds lift you like nowhere else, and I can’t wait to hear them as we crest that famous jump.” Max Smart added: “ Working with Malcolm has already been fantastic; he brings calm experience, and we are already getting to know each other’s style. Rally de Portugal will be a particularly special event for me as my mum’s flying in from South Africa, which makes it extra special. Portugal is about managing fatigue, tyre wear and those unpredictable soft sections. My aim is to finish every stage, build our confidence as a pairing, and bank those first Junior WRC points of the season.” Click here to find out more about the FIA Rally Star programme, and follow @FIARallyStar on social media. World Rally Championship FIA Rally Star WRC SEASON 2025 Sport Rallies 1SportWorld Rally ChampionshipRalliesWRCSEASON 2025FIA Rally Star00 Monday, May 12, 2025 - 5:35pm Monday, May 12, 2025 - 5:35pm
