WRC
The FIA World Rally Championship’s top drivers and machinery roared into life on Thursday morning as Rally Islas Canarias officially got underway with shakedown.
Set inland from the Las Palmas-based service park, the Santa Brígida test marked the WRC’s first kilometres on Spanish roads since 2022. Spectators turned out in numbers to line the technical asphalt test - and they were treated to a strong opening showing from Kalle Rovanperä.
Driving a Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, the Finn topped the times by 2.5sec from team-mate Takamoto Katsuta - a clear early statement from the two-time world champion. The field behind them was closely packed, suggesting a competitive weekend lies ahead on the island’s tricky mountain roads.
Third place was shared by Hyundai i20 N Rally1 stars Ott Tänak and Thierry Neuville, who both posted identical times.
“It’s a nice Tarmac rally, and it’s going to be mostly about the driving - so yeah, it’s great to be here,” Rovanperä said. “It’ll be a really tough weekend with new pace notes and unfamiliar stages. It won’t be easy, but of course, we’ll try to enjoy it and give our best.”
Championship leader Elfyn Evans was fifth, 4.1sec slower than Rovanperä and just two-tenths up on GR Yaris Rally1 colleague Sébastien Ogier – returning to action for the first time since his Rallye Monte-Carlo win.
It won’t be easy, but of course, we’ll try to enjoy it and give our best.
Adrien Fourmaux placed seventh in his Hyundai and, although the Frenchman won this event in 2020 when it featured on the FIA European Rally Championship calendar, he remained cautious about how much that result might help him this time around.
“I won the rally in 2020, but it was raining the whole time, so I think this is going to be a very different story,” he admitted. “It’s a really big challenge here. The stages are very different - it’s corner after corner. We’ll have to manage the tyres, and I think that’s going to be the biggest topic this weekend. But I’m really pleased to be here in the Canaries.”
Sami Pajari followed in eighth, while M-Sport Ford duo Grégoire Munster and Josh McErlea completed the top 10.
Related articles
