The Vodafone Rally de Portugal was the third scoring event of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Iberian Cup. Undoubtedly, the toughest rally disputed to date, given the state in which the stages were found after the passage of the drivers registered in the World Rally Championship (WRC). In addition, this edition of the Rally of Portugal, which commemorated the 50th anniversary of the WRC, was one of the most demanding in recent years, with 21 special stages totalling 338.64 timed kilometres.

As established under the specific regulations of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Iberian Cup, the entrants were only obliged to complete the first two stages in Portugal, and the classification was established at the end of the day on Friday. The victory went to Ricardo Costa-Rui Vilaça (Macedo & Macedo GTW Racing), who also climbed to the top of the overall classification, tied on points with his compatriot Miguel Campos (Inside Motor).

However, the teams made up of Germán Gómez Fortes-Sergio Cancela Boga (Escudería Surco) and Víctor Calisto-Márcio Calisto (Inside Motor) decided to complete the remaining stages, putting the Toyota GR Yaris RZ and its mechanics to a real test of reliability. Both drivers arrived at the finish line on Sunday, highly satisfied with their performance and the milestone that this has meant for the GR Yaris RZ, as Germán Gómez commented: "For me, it has been a privilege and a dream to have completed a World Championship event. In addition, we have beaten the record that Pablo Alfaro and Felix Enes had so far as the best Galician team classified in the history of the Rally of Portugal". The Galician driver finished third in the cup and scored his first scratch of the season, which is of great value as it adds an extra point for the general classification.

Both Germán Gómez (Escudería Surco) and Víctor Calisto (Inside Motor) are the oldest drivers registered in the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Iberian Cup, which highlights the possibilities offered by this trophy. On the one hand, it gives young talents the opportunity to get into a four-wheel drive car for the first time, to continue progressing in their sporting careers; on the other hand, it offers the possibility to continue competing at the highest level to drivers who have been rallying for a lifetime, at the controls of a high-performance car, without having to assume the costs of a higher category model.

"I think this cup is a great opportunity for drivers like me, as it has given me the chance, after so many years in the world of rallying, to race for the first time on gravel, to contest my first world championship rally and, moreover, to do so with a highly competitive car. The engine is outstanding, the brakes are another point to take into account and then it has the GR-FOUR traction, which allows the drivers to stand in the highest positions of the general classification of a rally and measure ourselves with other drivers who drive superior cars. And, as an anecdote, we can say that we finished the rally ahead of Sébastien Ogier", added Germán after finishing the Rally of Portugal.

Meanwhile, Víctor Calisto (Inside Motor), although he re-joined the rally after a run-off on Friday that forced him to retire, also completed the Saturday and Sunday stages without any reliability problems, thereby securing his 31st participation in the Rally of Portugal.

The next event of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Iberian Cup will be the Rally Reino de León, on June 9 and 10. This rally is expected to beat the record number of entries to date for this new single-brand cup.