Sebastien Ogier Reigns Supreme as Rally Islas Canarias Takes a Shocking Turn with Stage Cancellation!
In a dramatic twist at the Rally Islas Canarias, reigning world champion Sebastien Ogier has taken the lead, but the excitement was abruptly halted when officials announced the cancellation of the highly anticipated stage three. The chaos erupted as more than 100 spectator vehicles were discovered parked illegally in a designated protected area near the SS3 Tejeda – San Mateo 1 route, a staggering 18.62km stretch that was supposed to showcase the prowess of the world’s best rally drivers.
The FIA didn’t mince words in their announcement: “Due to more than 100 spectator vehicles being found illegally parked within a protected area near SS3, the Clerk of the Course was forced to cancel the stage in order to allow for the removal of the vehicles from the area.” This shocking development left fans stunned and scrambling as they were urged to immediately relocate their vehicles to officially designated parking zones. The event, known for its thrilling races and breathtaking views, turned into a logistical nightmare as crews were redirected to the next stage, bypassing what could have been a nail-biting showdown.
Before the cancellation chaos, Ogier was on fire, setting the fastest time in the opening test of the morning loop and overtaking overnight leader Takamoto Katsuta by a razor-thin margin of 0.8 seconds. “It is ok. I expected a very close stage. I had a good feeling with the car. At the moment it looks close with my other team-mates, it will be intense,” said Ogier, clearly relishing the competition and the challenge from his formidable Toyota teammates.
Toyota’s dominance was palpable as they swept the top five stage times, leaving competitors from Hyundai and M-Sport-Ford struggling to keep up with the blistering pace of the Japanese powerhouse. Sami Pajari’s impressive fourth-fastest time catapulted him into third overall, just 0.9 seconds off the lead and a mere 0.1 seconds behind Katsuta. Meanwhile, Oliver Solberg made waves, climbing from 10th to fourth overall, a move that sent ripples of excitement through the crowd.
Despite the chaos, Dani Sordo emerged as Hyundai’s leading driver, clocking in sixth overall but trailing Ogier by a daunting 7.6 seconds. This was Sordo’s first Rally1 start since Greece 2024, and he expressed optimism amid the struggles, stating, “It was a really nice stage and I enjoyed it a lot. I think we can improve the car and I can improve a little bit. The team is working really hard, and maybe we are not fighting at the minute, but I'm happy the team is working hard.”
On the other hand, Thierry Neuville faced a harrowing challenge, admitting, “Honestly, I didn't sleep very well. I was so nervous about how I would drive the car on the stage and it was confirmed this morning. I'm trying to adapt my driving but nothing works. It feels like I don't know how to drive the car.” With the pressure mounting, the stakes are higher than ever as the rally continues.
As the dust settles from this chaotic turn of events, the rally world watches with bated breath. The top ten standings were rounded out by M-Sport Ford’s Josh McErlean and Jon Armstrong, separated by a mere 0.2 seconds, while Lancia's Yohan Rossel leads WRC2 in 11th overall. With Ogier in the lead and the competition heating up, Rally Islas Canarias promises more thrills and surprises in the days to come!