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 doable 18 and securing a successful margin of 53.5 seconds.
Toyota was an unstoppable drive on spherical 4 of the season, locking out the highest 4 locations due to 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 value management, groups should select the specification of sure parts corresponding to differentials and suspension earlier than starting a rally: this damage 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 averted crashing right into a tree on Saturday and misplaced three minutes in a ditch, finally 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 in a position to 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 1000’s of followers on the favored Spanish island.
“Everyone is aware of in regards to the reputation of rallying in Spain and for the game that is very nice. However for all these individuals engaged on the protection facet, it may be fairly a problem – this crew has risen to the problem so effectively.
“We’ve been working since six months and really intently since February, like weekly assembly, readjusting the whole lot, reviewing final yr and former yr’s phases to attempt to add as many spectator areas as doable and I’m actually proud for them. Like I stated, there have been a number of individuals coming into the phases even from shakedown on Thursday morning, it was actually busy. However the whole lot has been good. The volunteers have executed a improbable job, a giant thanks to them and to all the individuals engaged on the phases and the protection facet.
“We’ve the assistance of the Guardia Civil, controlling from the night time earlier than the visitors within the stage simply to make sure that we’ve no camper vans or vehicles not effectively parked on the stage. All what has been put in place labored.
“The crew has labored onerous on informing the spectators on social media and thru all the media to inform them: ‘Please, all of us desire a clear rally and to have the whole lot good.’ This has occurred and that is additionally due to the spectators themselves.
“I could be trustworthy, once I heard about Rally Islas Canarias coming to the FIA World Rally Championship, I used to be pondering loads to how we might make this work from spectator management and security facet. 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, nevertheless, 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 Group Principal: “It was an unbelievable efficiency this weekend, particularly from Kalle and Jonne. Kalle was simply dominating the entire weekend, however the greatest thanks belongs to the entire crew and the work they did in testing earlier than this rally. Our automobile was simply good 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 crew have managed it earlier than nevertheless it doesn’t occur fairly often. Rallying has good days and dangerous days, however it is a lovely end result.
“Lots of people have talked about Kalle and his begin to the season, however this weekend the automobile simply fitted to his fingers. I stated earlier than the rally that he hasn’t actually struggled, it’s simply the automobile is not powered by hybrid and his driving fashion didn’t match so effectively at first. I stated 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 Group
One of many crew’s more difficult 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 facility 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 pleased 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’ve gathered heaps and many good info that may assist us enhance the automobile for the longer term 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 end result we wished.”
M-Sport Ford World Rally Group
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 broad and hit the barrier on the opening stage of Sunday morning. He retired along side the street.
Richard Millener, Group Principal: “To start with, I want to congratulate the organisers of Rally Islas Canarias on an incredible occasion. Stepping up from the FIA European Rally Championship to the WRC requires a major dedication at each stage and the crew right here has actually proven what could be executed. We’ve had difficult roads, an incredible ambiance and massive numbers of spectators – all of whom have been managed very effectively.
“From our facet, each Grég [Munster] and Josh [McErlean] got here right here searching for expertise and there’s little question 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, stated:
“It has undoubtedly been probably the greatest weekends we’ve ever executed, as a result of it’s not so typically at this stage that you are able to do outcomes like this anymore. Everyone’s going for it and we’ve simply been a bit quicker on a regular basis, so I’m actually pleased. We did a very 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 in all probability understood the [new Hankook hard compound] tyre fairly effectively: no overheating, no pushing towards the driving, simply driving how the tyre needs to be pushed and it labored so effectively.”
Sébastien Ogier [Toyota], 2nd place, stated:
“The one ones who have been very spectacular this weekend have been Kalle and Jonne [Halttunen]. They’ve executed a tremendous rally. On my facet it’s clearly a reasonably good weekend additionally. After three months with out competing, it’s all the time troublesome to be as sharp as you could be however I loved it a lot. The automobile was enjoyable to drive this weekend and we’ve the proper end result for the crew to have a good time.”
Elfyn Evans [Toyota], third place, stated:
“Naturally if you aren’t able to battle for the win if you’re in equal equipment, it by no means feels nice. I feel in equity we’ve made some progress all through the weekend. The sensation was higher immediately so a giant thanks to the crew. They’ve ready us an unbelievable automobile to battle whereas the others have struggled, so large thanks to them.”
Takamoto Katsuta [Toyota], 4th place, stated:
“It’s an incredible end result for the crew, a 1-2-3-4 end. I wished to convey the automobile again immediately after such robust moments we’ve skilled, so it’s good to complete like this. Large due to the crew. It might 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, stated:
“There are some positives from the weekend. We’re the winner of the ‘Hyundai Cup’, in order that’s nice! But in addition in the course of the actually troublesome rallies you be taught loads and make some steps for the longer term, so I simply hope we will try this. However I’m actually assured with the crew that we will try this. Ultimately we take some factors – it’s not what we wished, undoubtedly, however the season remains to be actually lengthy so we preserve pushing.”
Ott Tänak [Hyundai], sixth place, stated:
“Clearly a really demanding weekend – I feel it’s troublesome to seek out the proper phrases. It’s in all probability the worst we’ve ever been as a crew. We didn’t do our homework, we weren’t ready and Toyota has set the bar very excessive, so that they did an incredible job. When the automobile is just not working I wrestle to push, to be trustworthy. We are going to discover out the place we’re in Portugal in a couple of weeks’ time.”
Thierry Neuville [Hyundai], seventh place, stated:
“It hasn’t been a superb weekend, that’s clearly the case and it was seen in all probability from the surface. We struggled loads and we have to work more durable, 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 loads with, however it was good to see the entire crew stored combating onerous regardless of all of the struggles.”
Grégoire Munster [M-Sport Ford], eleventh place, stated:
“We bought 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, stated:
“It was a troublesome weekend for us. From the check we type of knew we could wrestle with understeer, however myself and Grég [Munster, team-mate] have been working onerous collectively, sharing concepts about the right way to good 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 crew, the Motorsport Eire Rally Academy and all our supporters.”
Sami Pajari [Toyota], DNF, stated:
“We didn’t get the end result we wished however I could 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 undecided what occurred as a result of I feel 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, stated:
“It all the time appears straightforward nevertheless it’s by no means straightforward. Alejandro Cachón pushed me loads. I didn’t know the roads earlier than I got here right here so I didn’t know if I might 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 in a position to do it. Thanks to my crew, 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 Gained
Kalle Rovanperä 15
Sébastien Ogier 2
Elfyn Evans 1
Adrien Fourmaux 1
Yohan Rossel 1
Phases led
SS1–SS18 Kalle Rovanperä
Amassed 2025 statistics
Occasion victories
Elfyn Evans 2
Sébastien Ogier 1
Kalle Rovanperä 1
Phases received
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 type to land their first win of the season, the Toyota crew dominating the Las Palmas-based Rally Islas Canarias.
