Kalle Rovanpera swept 15 out of 18 stages to secure a resounding victory at Rally Islas Canarias 2025 as Toyota delivered one of the most commanding and memorable performances in recent WRC history.
This event marking its debut in the 2025 WRC calendar unfolded across the picturesque yet technically demanding tarmac roads of Gran Canaria from April 24 to 27, 2025 and witnessed Toyota GR achieving an unprecedented 1-2-3-4 finish, underlining their dominance on the global rally stage.
Rally Islas Canarias 2025 was set against the vibrant backdrop of Las Palmas, with stages winding through the island’s mountainous terrain.
The rally comprised 18 special stages, totaling 301.3 kilometers of competitive distance and challenged crews with its smooth, twisting asphalt and the introduction of the new hard-compound Hankook tyres.
Sixty-three crews registered for this milestone event, each aiming to master the unfamiliar roads and the unique conditions presented by Gran Canaria’s climate and topography.
From the outset Kalle Rovanpera and his co-driver Jonne Halttunen established a blistering pace. Despite not being among the pre-event favorites due to earlier struggles adapting to the new tyres, Rovanperä found his rhythm immediately.
On Friday’s opening leg the Finn swept all six stages, quickly building a commanding 26.8-second lead. His confidence on the technical asphalt was evident as he navigated the mountain roads with precision, undeterred by minor issues such as understeer in the third stage, which he still managed to win.
The Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 cars proved to be the class of the field, their performance on the new Hankook tyres giving the drivers the confidence to push hard on the demanding stages.
Kalle Rovanpera’s mastery was complemented by his Toyota teammates who also excelled throughout the rally. Eight-time world champion Sébastien Ogier alongside co-driver Vincent Landais maintained a steady and competitive pace ultimately finishing second, 53.5 seconds behind Rovanpera.
Elfyn Evans, the championship leader entering the event, delivered another solid performance. Alongside co-driver Scott Martin, the Welshman finished third, 1 minute and 17.1 seconds adrift of Rovanpera.
Takamoto Katsuta with co-driver Aaron Johnston rounded out the Toyota sweep in fourth place, 2 minutes and 2.9 seconds behind the winner.
Rally Islas Canarias 2025 was particularly significant for Toyota, not only for the clean sweep but also for the manner in which it was achieved. The GR Yaris Rally1 was never headed in the stage times, with Toyota drivers winning every stage across the rally.
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Rovanpera’s 15 stage wins, including all but one of the full-length mountain tests, underscored both his personal resurgence and the technical superiority of the Toyota package.
The victory marked Rovanpera’s first since Rally Chile in October of the previous year and his 16th career win, making him the most successful Toyota driver in WRC history, surpassing Sébastien Ogier and Carlos Sainz.
While Toyota celebrated, their main rivals endured a rally to forget. Hyundai Motorsport, expected to challenge for the podium, struggled with car setup and tyre management.
Adrien Fourmaux, driving the Hyundai i20 N Rally1, was the best of the rest, finishing sixth overall, followed by teammates Thierry Neuville and Ott Tänak in seventh and eighth, respectively.
The Hyundai drivers found themselves unable to match the pace of the Toyotas, hampered by the new tyre regulations and the demanding nature of the Gran Canaria stages.
Ford’s M-Sport team also faced challenges with Grégoire Munster and Louis Louka finishing ninth in their Ford Puma Rally1. The Ford drivers showed flashes of speed but were unable to sustain a consistent challenge to the dominant Toyotas.
In the Rally2 category, Yohan Rossel and Arnaud Dunand in the Citroën C3 Rally2 emerged as the top finishers, securing tenth place overall and first in their class followed closely by other Rally2 competitors such as Nikolay Gryazin and Emil Lindholm.
