Toyota’s dreams of a historic 1-2-3-4-5 finish were shattered when Sami Pajari crashed out during Rally Islas Canarias, allowing Kalle Rovanperä to extend his lead in a dominating fashion.
Pajari’s unfortunate exit came on Saturday’s penultimate stage when he lost control on a left-hander, crashing through a barrier and damaging his car beyond repair. This mishap dashed Toyota’s hopes of matching a record set by Lancia back in 1990.
Meanwhile, Rovanperä continued his stellar performance, winning all three stages on Saturday and leaving his competitors in the dust. Even eight-time world champion Sébastien Ogier couldn’t keep up with Rovanperä’s blistering pace.
Championship leader Elfyn Evans struggled to close the gap with Ogier, falling 23 seconds behind. Pajari’s exit allowed Takamoto Katsuta to move up to fourth place, despite facing challenges with the course.
In the Hyundai camp, Adrien Fourmaux pulled ahead of reigning champion Thierry Neuville, who fought to find the right setup for his car on the tricky Canarian asphalt. Ott Tänak, on the other hand, found himself lacking motivation to push for a higher position.
The rally saw its fair share of drama as Grégoire Munster’s mishap dropped him out of the top 10, while Léo Rossel crashed his Citroën out of fourth place in WRC2 after a risky move.
In the WRC2 category, Yohan Rossel maintained his lead despite a strong challenge from Alejandro Cachón, solidifying his position at the top of the standings.
Overall, the Rally Islas Canarias proved to be a thrilling and unpredictable event, with Rovanperä emerging as the standout performer as the competition heated up on the challenging course.