Phoenix 24
Toyota controlled the rally before rivals could react.
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, April 2026. Sébastien Ogier took command of the Rally Islas Canarias with the authority of a champion who understands asphalt not as a surface, but as a language. The French driver imposed Toyota’s rhythm across the opening competitive stages, turning the Spanish round of the World Rally Championship into a demonstration of precision, hierarchy and technical superiority.
Toyota’s strength was not limited to Ogier. The Japanese manufacturer placed several cars at the front, with Oliver Solberg, Elfyn Evans, Sami Pajari and Takamoto Katsuta reinforcing a collective dominance that exposed the competitive gap facing Hyundai. In a rally where every braking point and every clean exit matter, Toyota appeared sharper, more stable and better synchronized with the demands of the Canary Island roads.
For Hyundai, Dani Sordo became the most valuable reference point. Returning to the World Rally Championship after a long absence, the Spanish driver emerged as the strongest performer for the Korean team, holding the sixth position and limiting the damage in a weekend where Toyota’s pace looked difficult to contain. His result carried weight not only because of the classification, but because it offered Hyundai a technical baseline from which to work.
Sordo’s performance also had symbolic value. At 43, and with less recent competitive rhythm than many of his rivals, he showed that experience remains a decisive asset in rallying. His ability to read grip, manage risk and provide feedback gave Hyundai something more important than points: direction in a rally where the team needed answers.
The broader message from Gran Canaria was clear. Toyota arrived with depth, confidence and execution; Hyundai arrived searching for balance. That difference turned the rally into a strategic measurement of where each manufacturer stands in the current WRC cycle.
Ogier leads, but the story is larger than one driver. The Rally Islas Canarias has become a test of industrial strength, technical adaptation and competitive memory. On that terrain, Toyota currently looks like the team with the clearest map.
Detrás de cada dato, hay una intención. Detrás de cada silencio, una estructura.