The driver Takamoto Katsuta has started strong at the Rally Canary Islands, achieving victory in the first super special stage held at the new football stadium in Gran Canaria. In this edition, marking the 50th anniversary of the Spanish rally, the competition has promoted an accessible format for fans, with a route of 1.89 km that has seen drivers compete in a duel format.
Katsuta, at the wheel of the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, surpassed the Frenchman Adrien Fourmaux from Hyundai by 1.4 seconds. His time improved the previous record set by his teammate, Sami Pajari, by 0.4 seconds. “We appreciate the large turnout of fans at the stadium. Although it wasn’t a traditional stage, the showcase is important for our sport,” Katsuta declared after his victory.
Driver Sami Pajari had been the first to set the pace, surpassing local Dani Sordo, who was making his return to Rally1 after his last participation in 2024 in Greece. Pajari commented on the peculiarity of the stage: “It is a special stage for the fans, but the car is not designed to run at these speeds. I am excited about what is to come in the next few days.”
Roberto Daprà, WRC2 driver, stood out among the Rally1 with a time that placed him just 0.8 seconds behind Katsuta, and 0.2 seconds ahead of Sordo. “We have found a perfect setup. The terrains were demanding, but I love these stages,” Daprà commented.
Other standout drivers include Josh McErlean, who managed to surpass Oliver Solberg from Toyota, and Sebastien Ogier, current world champion, who tied in time with Fourmaux. Tomorrow, competitors will face six asphalt stages before a second session at the stadium, which will add up to a total of 108 competitive km.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
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