Repsol Toyota Rally Team finishes 23rd in Ultimate after overcoming a tough start
The Repsol Toyota Rally Team, with Isidre Esteve and co-driver Txema Villalobos, wrapped up the bp Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal in 23rd place in the Ultimate category. The fourth and penultimate round of the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) was anything but easy, but the Spanish duo managed to turn things around with two clean final stages, gaining rhythm, confidence, and valuable kilometers ahead of the next Dakar.
“This rally has been very demanding. We had setbacks that conditioned us, but I believe it’s quite an achievement to reach the finish, even when some stages went wrong,” Esteve reflected.
The 2025 Rally-Raid Portugal concluded in Lisbon after six intense days covering 2,374 km in total, with 1,433 km against the clock. Despite problems throughout the week, Esteve and Villalobos delivered a strong performance in Sunday’s final stage — 289 km in total, including 104 km timed. Overnight rain left the tracks in perfect condition, and Esteve pushed his Toyota Hilux T1+ with confidence, eventually finishing the stage 22nd in Ultimate.
“Today I really enjoyed it. It was a beautiful stage, with great grip, and from the start I felt comfortable with the car. We started in a good position and, even though we lost some time letting faster rivals through, we had a solid run. It was a great way to end the rally,” Esteve commented.
The rally’s narrow and twisty forest tracks were far from ideal for the heavier T1+ machines, and the team faced multiple challenges. A navigation tablet failure forced them to complete the opening stage without a roadbook, while in stage two a collision with a tree damaged a rear wheel. Stage three proved even harsher, with a broken driveshaft and ball joint leaving the car without rear brakes for more than 200 km.
Still, Esteve once again showed his trademark resilience. Not only did he bring the car home every day, but he also ended the rally with two clean stages, regaining pace and confidence. More importantly, the Portuguese round added crucial preparation mileage for the 2026 Dakar Rally.
“This rally was very demanding and not particularly suited to my driving style. We had some issues that slowed us down, but I think it’s a real merit to reach the finish, especially ending with two strong specials. I leave here satisfied and motivated for the Rallye du Maroc, where we’ll be able to show more of our potential.”
The Portuguese event gave Esteve, supported by Repsol, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Spain, MGS Seguros, and KH-7, the chance to go head-to-head with the very best in the Ultimate category — the same rivals he will face at the next Dakar. The team’s next challenge is the Rallye du Maroc, from October 12 to 17, the final stop of the 2025 W2RC season.
Source: Official press release
Translation and adaptation: Rally-Raid Network
Photo: ImagensDesportivas.com
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