Rally Islas Canarias began in the carnival atmosphere of the Estadio de Gran Canaria on Friday evening, where two decades of history collided with the sharp end of the 2026 World Rally Championship fight. Takamoto Katsuta opened the fifth round of the season as he finished the fourth — fastest — while Dani Sordo, contesting a home round for the first time in years, kicked off what could be his final WRC weekend on the island he grew up on.
Sordo returned to action for Hyundai in the Korean manufacturer's rotating third Rally1 seat, reunited with co-driver Candido Carrera. The 50-time WRC podium finisher set the fourth fastest time on the 1.9-kilometre super special, tempering expectations on a layout built for show rather than pace.
"I make a normal run, of course, first time after many time," Sordo said after his run. "We have some issues a little bit in the setup of the car. Of course we are really far, but we can improve a little bit. For sure we are not six seconds but we will find solution."
The capacity crowd in the home of Juri Cuniandy was firmly behind the Spanish veteran, who has now been competing at this level since 2003. His stage-one opponent Sami Pajari was only two years old when Sordo made his WRC debut, yet the young Finn is chasing a fourth consecutive top-three finish after a late puncture denied him a maiden win in Croatia.
"It's quite special stage to drive for the fans really in there, but it's a bit of a shame," Pajari said. "This car is not really made to drive that slow. But it's a good show, and there will be now three days of proper action. I'm really looking forward to that. It's quite a special feeling to race against Dani on this kind of stage."
Antonio Fornells provided a reminder of how quickly the 1.9-kilometre blast can bite, losing his car on the opening super special. The Hyundai Rally2 entrant was unhurt, but the incident set an early tone of unforgiving consequences.
At the sharp end of the WRC field, Katsuta and co-driver Aaron Johnston confirmed that their Croatia breakthrough is not a one-off. The championship leaders went four tenths quicker than Pajari and co-driver Marko Salminen through the opening test, backing up an unbroken run of form that began when they inherited victory on the Wolf Power Stage.
"It is about the show, about the fans, taking the sport to the people, but you are fastest through as well — so it's a double bonus," the TV crew put to Katsuta. "Yeah, double bonus," he replied. "Lot of people, I'm really appreciate so much people coming to see our sports."
A lightning time from WRC2 driver Roberto Dapper placed him third overall, though Friday's gravel-flavoured asphalt loops will quickly drop him down the running order. Sordo was fourth-quickest for Hyundai, with Josh McErlean rounding out the top five in his M-Sport Ford.
Katsuta now opens the road on Friday, carrying a 0.4-second advantage over Pajari into 322 kilometres of switchback tarmac action. The championship leader is the first Japanese driver to lead the WRC standings, and with Elfyn Evans, Sebastien Ogier, Ott Tanak's teammates and Thierry Neuville all chasing, the pressure on the Toyota man will be relentless across the three days ahead.
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*Originally published on [Motorsports Global](https://motorsports.global/article/sordo-wrc-comeback-katsuta-super-special-win-canary-islands-2026). Visit for full coverage.*
