The FIA World Rally Championship’s (WRC) first-ever trip to the sun-drenched roads of Gran Canaria for the Rally Islas Canarias turned into a one-man showcase. Kalle Rovanperä, the reigning two-time WRC champion, stamped his authority on the 2025 Rally Islas Canarias, dominating from the shakedown to the Power Stage and shaking up the championship standings in the process. Toyota Gazoo Racing, meanwhile, delivered a clean sweep of the top four positions in a performance as polished as the island’s pristine tarmac.
Thursday: As it happened
Rally week kicked off with anticipation and sunshine as the crews got their first taste of the technical, twisty asphalt stages unique to Gran Canaria. Rovanperä wasted no time in signalling his intent, topping the shakedown times and settling into a rhythm that would soon prove untouchable. From the very first run, it was clear: Toyota had pace, and Kalle was ready to deploy it.
Friday: As it happened
Friday’s six stages (SS1–SS6) made up Leg 1 of the rally — and Rovanperä treated the fans to a near-flawless performance. He won every single stage of the day, finishing with a commanding 26.8-second lead over teammate Sébastien Ogier.
The tight and twisty mountain roads of the island suited the GR Yaris Rally1 perfectly. Rovanperä’s commitment in corners, inch-perfect braking, and unmatched confidence gave the rest of the field no chance. Ogier held firm in second, despite a minor brush with a barrier in SS2, while Elfyn Evans and Takamoto Katsuta rounded out Toyota’s all-star top four.
Evans, who arrived in Gran Canaria leading the championship, was content with third — understanding the value of consistency on a weekend when raw pace belonged to someone else.
Saturday: As it happened
Saturday brought seven more stages and a chance for rivals to respond — but they simply couldn’t. Rovanperä may not have won every test this time, but he still bagged seven out of nine stage wins by day’s end. Even a brief technical issue — a minor glitch with his GR Yaris’ downshifting mechanism — couldn’t slow his charge. His calm approach and clinical driving neutralised any potential threat.
SS7 saw Rovanperä’s clean sweep come to an end, with Ogier taking the stage win. Yet the Finn quickly bounced back, continuing to stretch his advantage.
Behind him, the Toyota trio held firm. Katsuta showed flashes of brilliance, closing in on Evans, but team orders or tactical discipline ensured no internal duels jeopardised their dominant formation.
Sunday: As it happened
The final five stages (SS14–SS18), including the all-important Power Stage, were largely ceremonial in tone — but Rovanperä wasn’t done. He not only preserved his lead but also won two more stages, including the Power Stage, collecting the full 30 points (25 for the win, 5 from the Power Stage) and delivering a 15-stage win tally out of 18.
With Toyota finishing 1-2-3-4 — the first time a manufacturer has done so in years — the team extended its championship lead to 49 points over Hyundai. Rovanperä’s final winning margin was over 38 seconds, sending a loud message to the rest of the field: the champ is back in business.
WRC2: Rossel’s redemption, Cachón’s heroics
While all eyes were on the front, Yohan Rossel emerged victorious in WRC2, controlling the class after early pressure. The home crowd, however, had plenty to cheer for, with Alejandro Cachón delivering a sensational performance. The young Spaniard took second in WRC2 overall and won the WRC2 Challenger class, proving he’s a talent to watch.
WRC Championship shake-up: Rovanperä back in the hunt
Coming into Gran Canaria, Rovanperä was sixth in the standings and playing catch-up. Now, he’s jumped to second place, only 43 points behind Elfyn Evans. With plenty of rallies still to run — and with Portugal, Sardinia, and Kenya coming up — this title fight is wide open again.
Next on the calendar: The gravel beckons
The WRC now heads to Vodafone Rally de Portugal (May 15–18), where the smooth asphalt of Gran Canaria gives way to fast, loose gravel. With Toyota (see their silver streaker for the summer events) riding high and Rovanperä surging, the stakes are higher than ever. Hyundai and M-Sport Ford will need a response — fast.
One thing’s clear: the champ has found his stride, and the road to the 2025 crown just got a whole lot more interesting.
Overall Rally Islas Canarias Results
01: K. Rovanpera/J. Halttunnen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) – 2h 54m 39.8s
02: S. Ogier/V. Landais (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) + 53.5s
03: E. Evans/S. Martin (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) + 1m 17.1s
04: T. Katsuta/A. Johnston (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) + 2m 02.9s
05: A. Fourmaux/A. Coria (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) + 2m 31.0s
06: O. Tanak/M. Jarveoja (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) + 3m 11.4s
07: T. Neuville/M. Wydaeghe (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) + 3m 40.7s
08: Y. Rossel/A. Dunand (Citroën C3 Rally2) + 7m 10.7s
09: A. Cachon/B. Rozada (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) + 7m 40.2s
10: N. Gryazin/K. Aleksandrov (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) + 7m 58.4s
See the event’s full results here.