RALLY REPORT
Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen returned to the highest step of the FIA World Rally Championship podium for the primary time since final yr’s Rally Chile, dominating Rally Islas Canarias with 15 stage victories out of a potential 18 and securing a successful margin of 53.5 seconds.
Toyota was an unstoppable pressure on spherical 4 of the season, locking out the highest 4 locations because of Rovanperä/Halttunen, eight-time world champion Sébastien Ogier and Vincent Landais, championship leaders Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin, and Takamoto Katusta/Aaron Johnston.
To make sure efficient price management, groups should select the specification of sure elements comparable to differentials and suspension earlier than starting a rally: this harm Hyundai, whose decisions on this regard didn’t work successfully on the graceful, high-speed sections of asphalt roads that are distinguished on Gran Canaria. Adrien Fourmaux/Alexandre Coria led a Hyundai 5-6-7, with Ott Tänak/Martin Järveoja promoted to sixth when Thierry Neuville/Martijn Wydaeghe suffered a puncture on the penultimate stage of the occasion.
M-Sport’s drivers encountered an identical destiny to these at Hyundai, always tweaking automobile setups as they battled to dial understeer out of their Ford Pumas. Grégoire Munster/Louis Louka narrowly prevented crashing right into a tree on Saturday and misplaced three minutes in a ditch, ultimately ending eleventh; Josh McErlean/Eoin Treacy crashed on stage 14, damaging the left-rear of their automobile and retiring from the rally.
Yohan Rossel/Arnaud Dunand have been capable of handle the early lead they constructed over Spanish champions Alejandro Cachón/Borja Rozada for WRC2 class victory. Mattéo Chatillon/Maxence Cornuau secured WRC3 victory; fellow Renault Clio Rally3 runners Arthur Pelamourgues/Bastien Pouget mounted a late cost however ran out of phases to catch the leaders.
FIA highlight
Nicolas Klinger, FIA Security Delegate: Rally Islas Canarias made its debut on the FIA World Rally Championship calendar this week. Nicolas Klinger outlines his job in controlling hundreds of followers on the favored Spanish island.
“Everyone is aware of concerning the reputation of rallying in Spain and for the game that is very nice. However for all these individuals engaged on the security aspect, it may be fairly a problem – this staff has risen to the problem so effectively.
“We have now been working since six months and really carefully since February, like weekly assembly, readjusting every part, reviewing final yr and former yr’s phases to attempt to add as many spectator areas as potential and I’m actually proud for them. Like I mentioned, there have been numerous individuals coming into the phases even from shakedown on Thursday morning, it was actually busy. However every part has been excellent. The volunteers have executed a improbable job, a giant thanks to them and to the entire individuals engaged on the phases and the security aspect.
“We have now the assistance of the Guardia Civil, controlling from the evening earlier than the visitors within the stage simply to make sure that now we have no camper vans or vehicles not effectively parked on the stage. All what has been put in place labored.
“The staff has labored exhausting on informing the spectators on social media and thru the entire media to inform them: ‘Please, all of us desire a clear rally and to have every part good.’ This has occurred and that is additionally because of the spectators themselves.
“I may be trustworthy, after I heard about Rally Islas Canarias coming to the FIA World Rally Championship, I used to be considering rather a lot to how we might make this work from spectator management and security aspect. It couldn’t have gone higher.”
TEAM BY TEAM
Toyota Gazoo Racing
The defending FIA Producers’ Champion dominated the occasion from begin to end, with Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen successful the primary 12 phases. By then the Finns had constructed an unassailable lead on the prime of the timesheets – however that didn’t deter them from dominating Sunday too to safe a most 35-point haul.
Sébastien Ogier and Vincent Landais have been again for the primary time since Rallye Monte-Carlo and scored an distinctive second place. By his personal admission, Ogier struggled to seek out a solution for his team-mate’s tempo. He did, nonetheless, keep forward of the Championship-leading #33 Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 of Elfyn Evans/Scott Martin. The British crew have been a trouble-free third, locking out the rostrum for Toyota Gazoo Racing and increasing their world championship result in 43 factors.
The Japanese marque had dreamed of a FIA WRC record-equalling 1-2-3-4-5 end earlier than Sami Pajari/Marko Salminen crashed out on SS12. Takamoto Katsuta/Aaron Johnston bounced again from a disappointing finish to final month’s Safari Rally Kenya with fourth place.
Juha Kankkunen, Deputy Crew Principal: “It was an unimaginable efficiency this weekend, particularly from Kalle and Jonne. Kalle was simply dominating the entire weekend, however the greatest thanks belongs to the entire staff and the work they did in testing earlier than this rally. Our automobile was simply excellent for this rally, and we managed to attain a 1-2-3-4 which is sort of historic. As a driver I used to be a part of that very same formation end for Toyota at Safari Rally Kenya, and we as a staff have managed it earlier than however it doesn’t occur fairly often. Rallying has good days and dangerous days, however it is a stunning consequence.
“Lots of people have talked about Kalle and his begin to the season, however this weekend the automobile simply fitted to his fingers. I mentioned earlier than the rally that he hasn’t actually struggled, it’s simply the automobile is now not powered by hybrid and his driving model didn’t match so effectively at first. I mentioned earlier than the rally: wait, when Kalle finds the fifth gear from the gearbox, it means hassle for the others.”
Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Crew
One of many staff’s tougher outings within the FIA World Rally Championship. A pre-event check had left the trio of i20 N Rally1s ill-suited to the twists and turns of the Spanish island Tarmac.
They have been by no means able to problem the front-running Toyotas throughout the unfold of spherical 4 and there was little to cheer among the many three crews. Adrien Fourmaux/Alexandre Coria have been typically the quickest of the manufacturing unit Hyundais – their i20 working with a transmission setup which was typically extra beneficial for the high-grip floor. After a few sophisticated occasions in Sweden and Kenya, the Frenchmen took some comfort in main house their World Championship-winning team-mates Ott Tänak/Martin Järveoja and Thierry Neuville/Martijn Wydaeghe in fifth place.
Tänak and Neuville have been glad to see the end, each speaking of the necessity for refinements to the i20 forward of the subsequent asphalt outing at Central European Rally (October 16-19). A puncture on the penultimate stage of the rally inhibited Neuville/Wydeaghe’s push to catch Fourmaux for fifth place, falling to seventh place on the end.
François-Xavier Demaison, Technical Director: “We have now gathered heaps and many good data that may assist us enhance the automobile for the long run Tarmac rallies but additionally for the upcoming gravel rallies. It was an intensive check session. We examined many, many issues this weekend however clearly we didn’t get the consequence we needed.”
M-Sport Ford World Rally Crew
M-Sport ready a brace of pristine Ford Puma Rally1s for Grégoire Munster/Louis Louka and Josh McErlean/Eoin Treacy for the primary pure asphalt outing of the season.
Each drivers struggled to dial the Puma into the dry Tarmac and spent a lot of the primary day working via technical options to discover a extra impartial setup for the automobile. Following in a single day modifications to the automobile, Munster’s feeling improved via Saturday morning, earlier than he slid off the street on the center stage of the Saturday afternoon loop.
The Luxembourg driver made additional evolutions to his setup and was caught out on a right-hander in SS11. He made the end of the stage and the day, dropping from ninth to sixteenth, earlier than demonstrating improved tempo on Sunday.
McErlean’s first all-asphalt outing in a Puma Rally1 offered loads of alternative for him to take expertise and be taught – which was precisely what he was doing earlier than he slid vast and hit the barrier on the opening stage of Sunday morning. He retired along with the street.
Richard Millener, Crew Principal: “To start with, I want to congratulate the organisers of Rally Islas Canarias on an important occasion. Stepping up from the FIA European Rally Championship to the WRC requires a major dedication at each degree and the staff right here has actually proven what may be executed. We’ve had difficult roads, an important ambiance and massive numbers of spectators – all of whom have been managed very effectively.
“From our aspect, each Grég [Munster] and Josh [McErlean] got here right here in search of expertise and there’s little doubt they go away with extra complete data of what makes a Rally1 automobile work on dry asphalt. Naturally, it’s disappointing to see them each caught out – particularly for Josh lacking extra of Sunday’s mileage – however this is part of the sport.”
RALLY RESULTS
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Kalle Rovanperä / Jonne Halttunen Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 2;54;39.8
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Sébastien Ogier / Vincent Landais Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 +53.5
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Elfyn Evans / Scott Martin Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 +1;17.1
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Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 +2;02.9
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Adrien Fourmaux / Alexandre Coria Hyundai i20 N Rally1 +2;31.0
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Ott Tänak / Martin Järveoja Hyundai i20 N Rally1 +3;11.4
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Thierry Neuville / Martijn Wydaeghe Hyundai i20 N Rally1 +3;40.7
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Yohan Rossel / Arnaud Dunand Citroën C3 Rally2 +7;10.7
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Alejandro Cachón / Borja Rozada Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 +7;40.2
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Nikolay Gryazin / Konstantin Aleksandrov Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 +7;58.4
DRIVER QUOTES
Kalle Rovanperä [Toyota], 1st place, mentioned:
“It has undoubtedly been among the best weekends now we have ever executed, as a result of it’s not so usually at this degree that you are able to do outcomes like this anymore. Everyone’s going for it and now we have simply been a bit sooner on a regular basis, so I’m actually glad. We did a extremely good preparation on the pacenotes as a result of it was all new phases, however general it comes from the setup being actually good. I most likely understood the [new Hankook hard compound] tyre fairly effectively: no overheating, no pushing in opposition to the driving, simply driving how the tyre desires to be pushed and it labored so effectively.”
Sébastien Ogier [Toyota], 2nd place, mentioned:
“The one ones who have been very spectacular this weekend have been Kalle and Jonne [Halttunen]. They’ve executed an incredible rally. On my aspect it’s clearly a fairly good weekend additionally. After three months with out competing, it’s at all times troublesome to be as sharp as you may be however I loved it a lot. The automobile was enjoyable to drive this weekend and now we have the right consequence for the staff to have a good time.”
Elfyn Evans [Toyota], third place, mentioned:
“Naturally if you aren’t able to struggle for the win if you’re in equal equipment, it by no means feels nice. I believe in equity now we have made some progress all through the weekend. The sensation was higher immediately so a giant thanks to the staff. They’ve ready us an unimaginable automobile to struggle whereas the others have struggled, so massive thanks to them.”
Takamoto Katsuta [Toyota], 4th place, mentioned:
“It’s an important consequence for the staff, a 1-2-3-4 end. I needed to convey the automobile again immediately after such powerful moments now we have skilled, so it’s good to complete like this. Enormous because of the staff. It could be good to complete forward of one of many guys in entrance of me, however let’s see on the gravel. I like Portugal.”
Adrien Fourmaux [Hyundai], fifth place, mentioned:
“There are some positives from the weekend. We’re the winner of the ‘Hyundai Cup’, in order that’s nice! But additionally in the course of the actually troublesome rallies you be taught rather a lot and make some steps for the long run, so I simply hope we can try this. However I’m actually assured with the staff that we will try this. In the long run we take some factors – it’s not what we needed, undoubtedly, however the season continues to be actually lengthy so we hold pushing.”
Ott Tänak [Hyundai], sixth place, mentioned:
“Clearly a really demanding weekend – I believe it’s troublesome to seek out the appropriate phrases. It’s most likely the worst now we have ever been as a staff. We didn’t do our homework, we weren’t ready and Toyota has set the bar very excessive, in order that they did an important job. When the automobile shouldn’t be working I battle to push, to be trustworthy. We’ll discover out the place we’re in Portugal in just a few weeks’ time.”
Thierry Neuville [Hyundai], seventh place, mentioned:
“It hasn’t been an excellent weekend, that’s clearly the case and it was seen most likely from the surface. We struggled rather a lot and we have to work tougher, that’s for positive. We have to put the finger the place it’s painful and are available again stronger. We haven’t been fortunate with the puncture which we misplaced rather a lot with, however it was good to see the entire staff saved combating exhausting regardless of all of the struggles.”
Grégoire Munster [M-Sport Ford], eleventh place, mentioned:
“We obtained one thing fallacious to start with which is sealed and we can not do something about it. Generally that’s how it’s, however we by no means gave up and we tried to seek out options. Though the results of what we tried to attain isn’t there, we didn’t surrender and that’s an important factor.”
Josh McErlean [M-Sport Ford], DNF, mentioned:
“It was a troublesome weekend for us. From the check we sort of knew we might battle with understeer, however myself and Grég [Munster, team-mate] have been working exhausting collectively, sharing concepts about the best way to excellent the setup. By Saturday we weren’t as misplaced as we have been on Friday, however sadly we have been caught out on Sunday morning and needed to retire. Sorry to the M-Sport staff, the Motorsport Eire Rally Academy and all our supporters.”
Sami Pajari [Toyota], DNF, mentioned:
“We didn’t get the consequence we needed however I may be actually happy with my tempo. In comparison with the opposite drivers on some particular phases, we’re beginning to be actually, actually shut. So for positive, that is actually, actually cool to see. Sadly in SS12 we have been a bit too quick in a single lengthy nook. I’m unsure what occurred as a result of I believe I did the identical as I did within the morning, however we merely had an excessive amount of velocity and hit the fence.”
Yohan Rossel [Citroën], WRC2 winner, mentioned:
“It at all times appears simple however it’s by no means simple. Alejandro Cachón pushed me rather a lot. I didn’t know the roads earlier than I got here right here so I didn’t know if I’d have the ability to play for the win. I knew the automobile might however I wasn’t positive about myself, however fortunately we have been capable of do it. Thanks to my staff, they deserve that.”
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
Drivers’
1 Elfyn Evans 109 factors
2 Kalle Rovanperä 66 factors (+4)
3 Thierry Neuville 59 factors (-1)
4 Sébastien Ogier 58 factors
5 Ott Tänak 57 factors (-2)
6 Adrien Fourmaux 44 factors (-1)
7 Takamoto Katsuta 39 factors
8 Sami Pajari 19 factors
9 Grégoire Munster 16 factors
=10 Mārtiņš Sesks 8 factors
=10 Gus Greensmith 8 factors
=10 Josh McErlean 8 factors
=10 Yohan Rossel 8 factors
Producers’
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Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT 208 factors
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Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT 157 factors
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M-Sport Ford WRT 58 factors
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Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT 2 25 factors
Statistics
Phases Received
Kalle Rovanperä 15
Sébastien Ogier 2
Elfyn Evans 1
Adrien Fourmaux 1
Yohan Rossel 1
Phases led
SS1–SS18 Kalle Rovanperä
Collected 2025 statistics
Occasion victories
Elfyn Evans 2
Sébastien Ogier 1
Kalle Rovanperä 1
Phases gained
Kalle Rovanpera 20
Elfyn Evans 13
Ott Tanak 12
Sebastien Ogier 8
Adrien Fourmaux 8
Takamoto Katsuta 7
Thierry Neuville 5
Gregoire Munster 2
Yohan Rossel 1
Phases led
Elfyn Evans 33
Kalle Rovanperä 18
Sébastien Ogier 13
Ott Tänak 8
Takamoto Katsuta 2
Thierry Neuville 1
Aggressive statistics after spherical 4
74 phases
1,294.62 aggressive kilometres coated
13h17m28.9s gathered time for winner
The weekend in a single image
Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen have been on flying kind to land their first win of the season, the Toyota crew dominating the Las Palmas-based Rally Islas Canarias.
