Preliminary discussions began almost a year ago. Aridany Romero, the advisor for sports in the council of Gran Canaria, has confirmed that the talks have advanced significantly.
“It’s true that there is a solid proposal to host it for two consecutive years. It’s true that the financial resources requested by the WRC Promoter are high, but we are talking about the Formula One of rallying,” Romero says on the local AutomovilismoCanario.com site.
Rallying has strong traditions in the Canary Islands. Rally Islas Canarias has long been part of the ERC and is set to be run this year as the second event of the season at the beginning of May.
According to Romero, local administration is currently deliberating on how to organize the necessary funding for a WRC level event. Local decision-makers have previously assessed that a World Rally Championship project could benefit the tourism of the Spanish archipelago.
“If we hold the rally in 2025 and 2026, costs can be reduced, but the fundamental element in the negotiation is that the WRC Promoter wants to come to Gran Canaria. They have been thrilled with our roads, our fans and the organization,” Romero emphasizes.
“They want to come to Spain and have it led by the island of Gran Canaria.”
WRC and ERC share the same promotion company. Rumors last year hinted that Rally Islas Canarias could alternate with the Rally Catalonia in the World Championship in the future. Catalonia was last included in the WRC calendar in 2022.
The rallies in the Canary Islands and Catalonia are of a similar nature. Both can be classified as pure tarmac rallies, where cutting corners is hardly practiced. Thus, the asphalt roads remain relatively clean from gravel and dirt.
