WRC
Katsuta leads after Canarias curtain-raiser
Takamoto Katsuta leads Rally Islas Canarias after Thursday evening’s opening super special, edging Sami Pajari in a tightly fought stadium showdown in Las Palmas.
The Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 driver set a best time of 1min 54.2sec on the 1.89km SSS1 inside Gran Canaria Stadium, beating Pajari by 0.4sec in front of a packed crowd.
The short, technical stage - featuring tight turns and a donut section around the pitch - provided a spectacular start to the rally, with times close across the field.
“It is a double bonus,” Katsuta said. “I really appreciate all the people coming to cheer our sport.”
Pajari had earlier set the benchmark and remained quickest for much of the running, eventually ending the stage just 0.4sec shy of the lead.
“It is quite a special stage for the fans,” he said. “It is a shame the car is not made to drive this slow. It was a special feeling to race Dani on this stage.”
Behind the leading pair, Roberto Daprà slotted into third overall in his Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, with Hyundai’s Dani Sordo fourth on his return to Rally1 machinery in the i20 N Rally1.
“It was really nice. There is a lot of people here,” said Sordo. “It was not an easy way to start the rally but we enjoy.”
M-Sport Ford’s Joshua McErlean impressed with the fifth fastest time, ahead of Hyundai driver Adrien Fourmaux and Toyota’s Sébastien Ogier, who shared sixth.
“It is massive for the sport, these stages,” said McErlean. “It was a nice way to start the rally.”
Ogier added: “A lot of people here, it is nice. It is great to see the atmosphere.”
Thierry Neuville and Elfyn Evans were inseparable, setting identical times to sit eighth and ninth respectively, 1.9sec adrift of the lead.
“It wasn’t brilliant but it is so easy to take a wheel off here,” said Evans. “I was trying not to do anything silly.”
Neuville said: “It is always great to have a stage with so many people. I’m happy to kick off in these kind of conditions.”
Oliver Solberg completed the top 10 after a cautious run.
“It was not perfect putting on a show for the first time in this car,” he said. “There are things to improve.”
The rally continues on Friday with a full day of action across Gran Canaria’s mountain roads.
