Organizers of Rally Portugal have been handed a suspended €15,000 fine and an official reprimand after a security breach saw two unauthorized vehicles enter an active stage of the World Rally Championship event.
The incident occurred during Friday’s second pass through the Arganil test (stage seven), forcing officials to halt the stage. The first breach involved a recovery tow truck that entered the stage while it was live, spotted by Toyota driver Elfyn Evans. Minutes later, a second car drove onto the stage, rapidly intercepted by Lancia WRC2 driver Yohan Rossel, prompting a red flag.
The Rally Portugal organizing committee launched an investigation into the breach, which was subsequently referred to the FIA stewards. The stewards’ report requests that organizers “further improve the existing safety measures to avoid any other safety issue” during this year’s event. The decision has also been forwarded to the FIA WRC Commission, FIA Road Sport Committee, FIA Safety Committee, FIA Closed Road Commission, and the Portuguese ASN, FPAK.
According to the stewards’ report, clerk of the course Horacio Rodrigues confirmed that “at no time was the entry of these vehicles onto the stage communicated to Rally Control.” The stewards determined that the lack of communication constituted unsafe acts leading to an unsafe situation, breaching Article 12.2.1.h of the 2026 FIA International Sporting Code.
“The Clerk of the Course explained that it had been established that a recovery vehicle was on its way to collect a competitor who had retired from the rally,” the report stated.
“The driver had entered the GPS coordinates, and the sat-nav system directed him along the SS7. The driver of the truck was unaware that he had entered onto a running special stage. Nevertheless, the truck was able to pass several barriers marking the special stage. As the truck quickly escaped to a side road and was secured, the stage was not interrupted.
“Approximately 35 minutes later a second vehicle, which belonged to the same company as the recovery truck and was reportedly on its way to assist it, also passed the barriers and entered SS7 in front of car No. 21. The stage was then immediately red-flagged for safety reasons.”
The Clerk of the Course and Joao Paulo Jordao, representing the organizing committee, apologized for the incidents. They stated that the organizer had arrangements with the relevant civilian authority to provide security and road closures. They confirmed the investigation into the circumstances remains ongoing.
