WRC 2
Rossel goes top after Rally Islas Canarias WRC2 win
Yohan Rossel has taken over the lead of the WRC2 championship after he and co-driver Arnaud Dunand stormed to a dominant victory at Rally Islas Canarias on Sunday.
Campaigning a Citroën C3 Rally2, Rossel led from start to finish across the three-day asphalt fixture, clocking fastest times on 13 of the rally’s 18 special stages.
The Frenchman maintained his impressive pace through Sunday’s final leg to further extend his advantage over Alejandro Cachón — the highest-placed Spanish driver — with the duo ultimately split by 29.5sec at the finish.
When it's like this, it looks easy but it's never easy,
Rossel’s triumph moves him 15 points clear at the top of the standings, with previous championship leader Oliver Solberg not nominating the event as a point-scoring round.
"When it's like this, it looks easy but it's never easy,” said Rossel. “Alejandro and his team pushed me a lot. I don't know the roads and when I came here, I didn't know if I could fight for the victory — the car, yes, but me, I didn't know. Thanks to all my team — they deserve it.”
Cachón may have missed out on the overall WRC2 win, but he did claim victory in the WRC2 Challenger category aboard his Toyota GR Yaris Rally2. Nikolay Gryazin completed the overall podium, finishing 18.2sec adrift in a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2.
Efrén Llarena, the 2022 FIA European Rally Champion, impressed with a fourth-place finish on his WRC2 debut, while fifth-placed Diego Ruiloba joined him as one of three Spaniards inside the top five. Finland’s Emil Lindholm rounded out the top six.
