The FIA World Rally Championship is set to return to Spain next season to take on the fast-paced asphalt roads of the Canary Islands in 2025 and 2026.
Following in the footsteps of Tet Rally Latvia and ORLEN 80th Rally Poland, both of which have used the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) to hone their events to join WRC in 2024, Rally Islas Canarias will move from the ERC to WRC in 2025 and 2026.
First run in 1977, Rally Islas Canarias has continuously been part of the ERC since 2016 and in 2026 will celebrate its 50th edition. It is intended to run exclusively on Gran Canaria in 2025, before expanding to include other islands for its 50th anniversary.
Monday’s announcement was made in front of media on Gran Canaria and, in addition to WRC Promoter and Todo Sport, was attended among others by Canary Islands President Fernando Clavijo, President of the Island Council of Gran Canaria Antonio Morales and FIA World Motor Sport Council Member and Real Federación Española de Automovilismo (RFEDA) President Manuel Aviñó.
“Bringing the Rally Islas Canarias to the WRC has been the reward for many years of work. It was a goal desired by several generations, and now, together with WRC Promoter, it has become within reach,” expressed Germán Morales, CEO of the event promoter Club Deportivo Todo Sport.
“Since adding the European Rally Championship to our portfolio of championships, we have been left with little doubts about the capabilities of the rally management team to run this rally next year on the WRC calendar,” expressed WRC Promoter Managing Director Jona Siebel.
“We are enthusiastic about having Spain back on the WRC calendar and are encouraged to see our clearly defined strategy to have an opportunity for ERC events to have a pathway to WRC coming to fruition as Rally Islas Canarias follows on from Latvia and Poland in 2024.”
Moving from the ERC to WRC calendar will have the added benefit of the expected influx of thousands of fans who will make their way to the popular European holiday destination, combining the fast-paced action on the blistering-quick stages with a kickstart to their summer.
The rally promises smooth, twisting asphalt surfaces which rise and dip across the volcanic inlands. While coastal temperatures are renowned for favourable year-round beach-going weather, drivers need to be prepared for changeable weather conditions as the stages snake their way through the islands’ mountainous interiors. The WRC most recently visited Spain in 2022 when the rally was based out of the Catalunyan beachside resort of Salou.
