The first stage of the BP Ultimate Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Super Special, hosted at the Estadio de Gran Canaria, saw the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 team clock a time of 1:54.2. This result positions Katsuta as the provisional leader within the WRC 2026 framework, where he is defending his championship lead.

The event attracted 25,000 people, who enjoyed the motorsport spectacle in an unconventional setting for such races. The day was full of surprises, with Finnish driver Sami Pajari securing second place, just four tenths of a second behind the Japanese leader.

Italian driver Roberto Drapá, driving a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2, stood out by reaching third place in the overall standings with a time of 1:55.0. He was closely followed by Spanish driver Dani Sordo, who not only secured fourth position but was also the highest-ranked driver from the Hyundai team.

From fifth place onwards, the usual names of the WRC began to appear. Joshua McRlean, with his Ford Puma Rally1, placed ahead of French driver Adrien Formaux, whose Hyundai i20N Rally1 did not perform well. Coincidentally, his compatriot Sebastien Ogier, with a Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, recorded the exact same time.

In eighth place, Belgian driver Thierry Neuville, in his Hyundai i20N Rally1, showed great concentration, avoiding errors. A similar approach was taken by Elfyns Evans and Oliver Solberg, both with Toyota Rally1, who, despite being considered favorites, opted for a more conservative strategy with an eye on Friday's stages.