The asphalt roads of Gran Canaria witnessed a masterclass in precision and teamwork as Rally Islas Canarias delivered one of the most captivating intra-team battles of the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship season. At the heart of it all stood Sebastien Ogier, who once again proved why he remains one of rallying’s greatest, securing a commanding victory after an intense duel with his Toyota teammates.
Driving the dominant Toyota GR YARIS Rally1, Ogier and co-driver Vincent Landais controlled the rally from Friday’s opening mountain stages, but never comfortably. The margins were razor-thin, the pressure relentless. Across the first two days, his lead never stretched beyond nine seconds as teammates closed in, turning the event into a high-speed chess match on smooth Spanish asphalt.
By Sunday, Ogier delivered the decisive blow. Matching pace where it mattered most, he sealed victory by 19.9 seconds, his first win of the season and the 68th of his illustrious career. It was a statement drive from the nine-time world champion, very calm, calculated, and ultimately untouchable when it counted.
Behind him, Elfyn Evans mounted a relentless challenge. Alongside co-driver Scott Martin, Evans surged on Saturday, claiming three stage wins amid changing weather conditions rolling in from the Atlantic. Though he fell short of victory, his weekend ended on a high note winning the Power Stage by 2.7 seconds and topping the Super Sunday classification by 2 seconds.
Rounding out the podium was rising star Sami Pajari, who continued his remarkable consistency with a fourth consecutive podium finish alongside Marko Salminen. While satisfied, Pajari made it clear his ambitions stretch further:
“It’s always positive when you can finish on the podium, and especially to now have four in a row at this point in my career. This is really great for us. Still, this weekend I felt I had a bit more to give… it’s nice to see we can take these podiums, but you always want more.”
Just off the podium, Takamoto Katsuta showed resilience. Entering the rally as championship leader, he steadily improved his pace to finish fourth, only 10.4 seconds behind Pajari, keeping himself firmly in the title fight.
1. Sebastien Ogier / Vincent Landais
2. Elfyn Evans / Scott Martin
3. Sami Pajari / Marko Salminen
Toyota’s dominance was absolute. The team locked out the top three positions and won all 17 stages, underlining the superiority of the GR YARIS Rally1 on asphalt. The result also marked their third podium sweep in five rounds this season and pushed them beyond a historic milestone over 300 WRC podium finishes.
In the championship race, Evans’ strong points sees him reclaim the drivers’ lead, narrowly ahead of Katsuta, while Pajari and Oliver Solberg remain within striking distance. Ogier’s victory brings him closer to the frontrunners despite a limited campaign.
WRC 2026 Drivers’ Standings (After Round 5)
1. Elfyn Evans – 101 pts
2. Takamoto Katsuta – 99 pts
3. Sami Pajari – 72 pts
4. Oliver Solberg – 68 pts
5. Adrien Fourmaux – 59 pts
6. Sebastien Ogier – 58 pts
In the manufacturers’ battle, Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team continues to stretch its advantage after collecting 59 of a possible 60 points in Spain.
Manufacturers’ Standings (After Round 5)
1. Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT – 265 pts
2. Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT – 167 pts
3. Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT2 – 75 pts
4. M-Sport Ford WRT – 63 pts
With asphalt mastery now complete, the championship shifts gears to gravel as crews head to Rally Portugal (May 7–10). Fast, sandy roads and rough terrain await, an entirely different challenge that could once again reshape the title fight.
But for now, the story belongs to Ogier and Toyota, precision, power, and perfection on the island roads of Gran Canaria.
Courtesy Photo
