TenerifeGran CanariaLa PalmaLa GomeraEl HierroLanzaroteFuerteventuraÁrea Metropolitana de Santa Cruz - La LagunaAcentejoValle de La OrotavaIcodDauteSuroeste de TenerifeAbonaValle de GüímarÁrea Metropolitana de Las PalmasCentro Norte de Gran CanariaNoroeste de Gran CanariaOeste de Gran CanariaSuroeste de Gran CanariaSureste de Gran CanariaLa Palma CapitalinaValle de AridaneNoroeste de La PalmaNoreste de La PalmaLa Gomera NorteLa Gomera SurEl Hierro (comarca)Lanzarote NorteLanzarote EsteLanzarote SuroesteFuerteventura NorteFuerteventura CentroFuerteventura SurTenerifeGran CanariaLa PalmaLa GomeraEl HierroLanzaroteFuerteventuraÁrea Metropolitana de Santa Cruz - La LagunaAcentejoValle de La OrotavaIcodDauteSuroeste de TenerifeAbonaValle de GüímarÁrea Metropolitana de Las PalmasCentro Norte de Gran CanariaNoroeste de Gran CanariaOeste de Gran CanariaSuroeste de Gran CanariaSureste de Gran CanariaLa Palma CapitalinaValle de AridaneNoroeste de La PalmaNoreste de La PalmaLa Gomera NorteLa Gomera SurEl Hierro (comarca)Lanzarote NorteLanzarote EsteLanzarote SuroesteFuerteventura NorteFuerteventura CentroFuerteventura Sur
ES|EN

La Voz Canaria

World Rally Championship Arrives in Gran Canaria Amidst Surprising Season

The island prepares to host the 2026 Rally Islas Canarias, a pivotal event in a championship where Toyota leads and young drivers set the pace.

Image of a rally car in action on a dusty terrain.
IA

Image of a rally car in action on a dusty terrain.

The 2026 World Rally Championship has completed its initial stages with an unexpected script, solidifying Toyota's lead in the constructors' standings and establishing Takamoto Katsuta as the season's major revelation, ahead of its arrival in Gran Canaria.

The 2026 World Rally Championship season has kicked off with a series of surprises and an intense battle that promises to escalate as the calendar progresses. Following iconic events such as Monte Carlo, Sweden, Kenya, and Croatia, the championship is beginning to take shape in both the premier category (WRC1) and the highly competitive WRC2.
One of the standout figures of this early season is Takamoto Katsuta. The Toyota driver has made significant progress, leading the championship with 81 points and emerging as the year's biggest revelation. His victory in the Safari Rally Kenya and subsequent consistency, including a crucial win in Croatia after a dramatic finish, have propelled him to the top of the standings.
In second place is Elfyn Evans with 74 points, maintaining his usual consistency. Oliver Solberg, considered one of the promising talents for the future of WRC, holds third place with 68 points after a very solid start. Sami Pajari and Adrien Fourmaux complete the top 5, in a season where the new generation of drivers is setting the pace. Regarding manufacturers, Toyota Gazoo Racing's dominance is clear, leading the constructors' championship ahead of Hyundai and Ford.
The current scoring system, which combines overall results, Super Sunday, and Power Stage, is rewarding consistency more than ever, explaining Katsuta's lead. In the WRC2 category, the competition is extremely close. The current leader is Léo Rossel with 42 points, followed by Roope Korhonen with 35 and Yohan Rossel with 27. This category, based on Rally2 vehicles, is consolidating its position as the perfect stepping stone to WRC1, with an increasingly international grid.
With the 2026 Rally Islas Canarias on the immediate horizon, a historic event celebrating its 50th anniversary, the championship enters its decisive phase. Races such as Portugal, Greece, and Estonia will begin to create real differences in the title fight. The 2026 WRC season has made it clear that traditional hierarchies are shifting, with Toyota remaining a benchmark, but with a new generation of drivers pushing hard.

Related News