Toyota and Hyundai prepare for asphalt challenge at Rally Islas Canarias

The World Rally Championship travels to the Canary Islands for the 50th edition of Rally Islas Canarias. As the second consecutive asphalt event on the calendar, the rally offers a significantly different technical challenge compared to Croatia, characterized by wider, high-grip roads that demand circuit-like precision.

Toyota enters the weekend with strong momentum, aiming to replicate its dominant top-four sweep from the previous season. Takamoto Katsuta leads the standings, with Sébastien Ogier returning to the roster to bolster the manufacturer's efforts. Meanwhile, Hyundai is looking to rebound, with Thierry Neuville seeking a strong performance and local favorite Dani Sordo returning to pilot a third i20 N Rally1.

Adrien Fourmaux brings valuable experience to the event as a former winner on these stages, while M-Sport Ford’s Jon Armstrong and Josh McErlean look to make their mark. The 17-stage event, covering 301km, begins with a Thursday night super special stage at Gran Canaria Stadium before moving into the mountainous terrain for the remainder of the competition.