Toyota sweeps Gran Canaria as Hyundai searches for answers

The fourth round of the 2025 World Rally Championship is revealing a dramatic contrast between manufacturers in the first-ever Canary Islands Rally, with Toyota demonstrating overwhelming superiority while Hyundai struggles to find the right rhythm on Gran Canaria's asphalt.

At the end of Saturday's stages, Kalle Rovanperä has established a monologue on the Canarian roads, claiming 12 of the 13 stages contested and building a 45.2-second advantage over his teammate Sébastien Ogier. This performance places the 24-year-old Finn in a privileged position to secure his first victory of the 2025 season.

"We made some small changes to the car this afternoon and I felt even better than in the morning," commented Rovanperä, who began this round 57 points below the championship lead. "The grip was more consistent and quite good," added the driver who seeks to become the first winner of a world championship event on Gran Canaria territory.

We made some small changes to the car this afternoon and I felt even better than in the morning. The grip was more consistent and quite good.

The gap between manufacturers widens

The current rally situation exposes a clear division between the participating teams. Toyota GAZOO Racing exhibits undeniable power with its GR Yaris Rally1 cars occupying the top four positions: Rovanperä leads, followed by Ogier (+45.2s), Elfyn Evans (+1:08.1) and Takamoto Katsuta (+1:43.9).

The Japanese team was close to monopolizing the top five places until Sami Pajari, who was holding fourth place, hit a wooden barrier in Saturday's penultimate stage, forcing his retirement.

In contrast, Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT is experiencing a complicated weekend. Its three drivers—Adrien Fourmaux, Thierry Neuville and Ott Tänak—occupy fifth, sixth, and seventh positions respectively, all more than two minutes behind the leader. The trio has expressed frustration over the lack of solutions to their setup problems.

"I'm at the limit of what I can do," confessed Neuville, the current championship runner-up. "I don't have other differentials available this weekend. I'm stuck with what I have," explained the Belgian, highlighting the technical limitations facing the Korean team.

Evans maintains advantage in the championship

Despite placing third in the provisional classification, Elfyn Evans consolidates his position as championship leader. The Welshman is on track to extend his advantage to more than 40 points over his closest pursuers, precisely Neuville and Tänak, who continue to lose ground in the Canary Islands.

"We need the points," stated Rovanperä thinking about Sunday's stages, where up to 10 additional points are awarded in the Wolf Power Stage in addition to the 25 for the overall victory. "If everything goes well, of course we'll try to score," added the Finn, aware of the importance of reducing his disadvantage in the general standings.

Meanwhile, Ogier has given up his victory aspirations and is focusing on securing second place. The Frenchman increased his advantage over Evans during Saturday, outpacing his teammate in five timed stages.

M-Sport Ford in trouble

The situation for M-Sport Ford is not encouraging either. Grégoire Munster, who pilots one of their Puma Rally1 cars, required help from spectators after being stranded off the track in SS10. This incident cost him three minutes and relegated him to thirteenth place.

As a consequence, the WRC2 leaders, Yohan Rossel and Alejandro Cachón, along with Josh McErlean (Munster's teammate at M-Sport), moved up to eighth, ninth, and tenth positions respectively.

Sunday's final day comprises almost 60 kilometers of competitive route, culminating with the Wolf Power Stage that closes the event at 13:15 local time. With such a substantial advantage, Rovanperä appears headed for a convincing victory, while Toyota is shaping up for a possible quadruple crown in this unprecedented Canary rally.

Overall classification after SS13