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The 2026 FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) resumes with the five-day BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal, running from Grândola to the Algarve between March 17 and March 22. A total entry of 66 vehicles will tackle the event, of which 43 crews are registered to score championship points. The field is divided across categories with 24 crews in the Ultimate category, 10 in Challenger, six in SSV and three in Stock, creating a dense mix of factory-backed machines and customer entries.
Organisers have adjusted the format after Dakar, removing the traditional Prologue and setting starting order by current championship standings and FIA driver status. The route offers approximately 1,320 competitive kilometres inside a total itinerary of 2,175km, and will include cross-border stages into Spain, finish-line celebrations in Vilamoura and the post-event prize giving in Loulé.
Headline contenders and the manufacturers’ fight
The overall Drivers’ standings are led by Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah and navigator Fabian Lurquin, who hold a 21-point advantage after their Dakar success. They drive one of three Dacia Sandriders entered for the season. Dacia commands a manufacturers’ lead and had considered stepping away after Dakar but has committed to continue through the season while defending a 33-point advantage over Ford Racing. High-profile teammates include Sébastien Loeb and Lucas Moraes, who occupy significant places in the drivers’ list and crew the other Sandrider entries.
Ford Raptors and notable pairings
Ford Racing looks to close the gap with a line-up centred on the Ford Raptor. The Swedish pairing of Mattias Ekström and Emil Bergkvist sit second in the standings and will lead the Raptor challenge in the absence of Joan Roma. New partnerships for Portugal include Carlos Sainz joining forces with Dani Oliveras in a Raptor for the first time, while privateer and factory-backed Raptor drives come from Martin Prokop, Kees Koolen, Mark Mustermann and Denis Krotov.
Toyota’s reaction and wider ultimate list
Toyota Gazoo Racing arrives under pressure after a difficult Dakar and sits 63 points behind Dacia in the manufacturers’ standings. Key Toyota names include Henk Lategan with Brett Cummings, recent Dakar winner Yazeed Al-Rajhi paired with Timo Gottschalk, and American Seth Quintero with navigator Andrew Short. Some entries are registered only for drivers’ points — for example, Akira Miura is entered but not listed for manufacturers’ points. The Ultimate field also features Mathieu Serradori in a Century CR7, rally veteran Laia Sanz in an Ebro S800 XRR and Miroslav Zapletal in a Ford F-150 Evo. Notably, X-Raid will not field Minis in Portugal.
Class battles: Challenger, SSV and Stock developments
The Challenger category offers its own storyline as Spain’s Pau Navarro and navigator Jan Rosa aim to enlarge an early points cushion while switching to a Bairons SRT Viking. The defending Challenger champions Nicolas Cavigliasso and Valentina Pertegarini sit third in the order and will contest in one of seven Taurus T3 cars registered for W2RC points. Local outfits, young talents and experienced privateers populate the class, highlighting its mix of development and competition.
SSV class dynamics
Only six of the 16 SSV crews are W2RC-registered in Portugal, and championship leaders Kyle Chaney and Jacob Arburight will be absent. That opens the door for Portuguese favourites João Monteiro and Nuno Morais to reduce a 16-point deficit in their Can-Am Factory Team machine. The SSV entry list is dominated by Can-Am Maverick R platforms, including crews from South America and Europe, while several local runners and non-registered names such as former motorcycle Dakar winner Matthias Walkner add spectacle to the class.
Stock category and Defender dominance
The Stock category sees three registered Defender D7x-R cars after their strong Dakar debut. Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal lead that internal team battle, followed by Sara Price with Sean Berriman and multiple Dakar winner Stéphane Peterhansel with Michael Metge. Team Land Cruiser Toyota Auto Body will not contest in Portugal, concentrating the Stock narrative around the Defenders and their internal championship implications.
Route, format and logistical overview
Organised by the Automóvel Club de Portugal, the event’s itinerary starts with registration and start formalities in Grândola, in the Setúbal province. The competitive programme opens with a 215km stage on Wednesday, March 18, then crosses into Spain for a 380km day to Badajoz on March 19. After an approximately 300km all-Spanish stage and night halt in Badajoz on March 20, crews return to Portugal for a 310km penultimate test to Loulé on March 21, before a final leg of around 115 competitive kilometres featuring two Algarve stages and finish-line proceedings in Vilamoura on March 22.
What to watch during the event
Key tactical elements include the revised starting order process, varying surface conditions across Iberia and the pressure on manufacturers to convert depth into points. With 66 starting crews and multiple high-profile pairings, the BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal promises intense battles across Ultimate, Challenger, SSV and Stock categories — all set against a compressed five-day race format that rewards speed, navigation and team strategy.