Rovanpera Leads Toyota Sweep at Rally Islas Canarias

Kalle Rovanpera dominated the opening day of the WRC Rally Islas Canarias, winning all six asphalt stages and leading a Toyota sweep of the top five positions. Rovanpera’s commanding performance put him 26.8 seconds ahead of eight-time world champion Sebastien Ogier, with championship leader Elfyn Evans in third. Toyota’s superiority was clear as their drivers, including Sami Pajari and Takamoto Katsuta, filled out the top five, while Hyundai struggled to match their pace, with reigning champion Thierry Neuville only managing sixth. Both Ogier and Evans acknowledged Rovanpera’s impressive speed, with Ogier admitting he could not challenge his teammate and Evans expressing frustration with his car’s setup. The event marks the WRC’s first full asphalt round in the Canary Islands and the debut of the hard compound Hankook tire. Saturday’s leg will be the rally’s longest, promising more action as Toyota looks to maintain its dominance.