TOYOTA GAZOO Racing W2RC (TGR W2RC) narrowly missed a podium on Stage 4 of Rally Raid Portugal but stayed in the hunt for overall honours on round two of the 2026 FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC).
Stage 4 featured 317 km of competitive action across rough, muddy terrain heading south to Loulé on Portugal’s Algarve coast. A demanding route featured narrow tracks, which were uneven and treacherous in parts following recent rain.
Seth Quintero and Andrew Short began the day firmly in the hunt for victory after a strong, but frustrating, Friday, when they seemed set to take the overall lead until suffering two punctures late in the stage. The pair were again among the front-runners on Stage 4 and challenged for the podium positions from the start.
Despite briefly moving into the top three towards the end of the stage, Quintero and Short finished fourth, just three seconds away from the podium and one minute 21 seconds behind winners João Ferreira and Filipe Palmeiro of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa.
However, another consistent run strengthened the #203 DKR GR Hilux’s hold on second overall, albeit it now two minutes 30 seconds behind leaders Sébastien Loeb and Édouard Boulanger (Dacia Sandriders).
Akira Miura continued to add to his growing experience of the #204 DKR GR Hilux. The TGR W2RC debutant, driving alongside navigator Armand Monleón, had a late starting position, meaning he encountered even more difficult stage conditions than the leaders. They lost time in the early stages but battled the elements and finished 17th in the Ultimate class on Stage 4, moving up to 14th overall.
Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings did not feature on Stage 4 following their rally-ending incident on Friday. The damage sustained to the #202 DKR GR Hilux in a high-speed roll early in the stage could not be repaired in time for Stage 5.
The rally concludes on Sunday with a relatively short Stage 5, comprising a 101 km competitive section around the town of Loulé, where the podium ceremonies will be held.
Quotes:
Seth Quintero: “It was a good day for us. I wasn’t willing to take the risks that some of the other guys were but all in all, it was a strong stage from us. We have pulled out a gap in second, which is positive as well. We are two minutes from the lead but anything can happen in rally, so we’ll keep fighting to get the win. Overall, the team has done really well, and the car has been amazing. We will continue to push on the last day and see where we end up at the end.”
Akira Miura: “Thanks to the team for working so hard again. They have really done the best for me and Armand. Today went quite well and I’m working better and better with Armand every day. When we had dry conditions I could really enjoy the stage and the performance of the DKR GR Hilux, so I am pleased with how it went. I’m looking forward to a good day to finish this rally.”
BP Rally Raid Portugal – Provisional Stage 4 result*
BP Rally Raid Portugal – Provisional standings after Stage 4*
*Ultimate class, correct at time of publication
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