WRC
Sordo excited to make Rally1 return at Rally Islas Canarias
Dani Sordo has his sights firmly set on a podium - or even victory - as the popular Spaniard returns to top-flight FIA World Rally Championship action on home soil at Rally Islas Canarias this week.
Sordo and co-driver Cándido Carrera will line up in a factory Hyundai i20 N Rally1, taking over Hyundai Motorsport’s third car for the event. It marks their first Rally1 start since finishing second at EKO Acropolis Rally Greece in 2024.
During their time away from Rally1 competition, the duo have remained active and successful, claiming the Portuguese national title last year in an i20 N Rally2.
Now, Sordo is relishing a return to Rally1 machinery in front of what is expected to be a bumper home crowd in Gran Canaria - and believes a strong result is within reach.
The three-time WRC rally winner has prepared for his comeback with an outing at Rallye La Llana on Spanish asphalt earlier this month, after plans to contest Rallye Villa de Santa Brígida were cancelled due to adverse weather.
“I am really excited to be back in the Hyundai i20 N Rally1 car and especially looking forward to being in Canarias,” said Sordo. “My target is to have a good set-up and fight for the victory or a podium. When I start a rally I always aim for the win, and being in Spain on Tarmac makes that feel very achievable.”
“I think we found a good set-up and balance with the car at Rallye La Llana, and it was great to work in the Rally1 car with Cándido again. I think we are in a good place heading into the rally, and there is no substitute for the feeling you get in a Rally1 car.”
Sordo’s previous experience in the Canary Islands dates back to the early stages of his career. At the 2005 Rally de Canarias - then part of the Spanish championship - he finished seventh overall alongside Marc Martí in a Citroën C2 S1600.
“I don't remember a great deal about Canarias, but it was a legendary rally from the Spanish Championship,” Sordo added. “I do remember that finding a good feeling was difficult, because the island is quite complicated; you can have rain on one stage and completely dry conditions on the next.”
