The Toyota driver laid down a benchmark time already on his first run through the test. On his second attempt, the Finnish star improved by a further 3.1 seconds to set the outright fastest time of the session.
Toyota team-mate Takamoto Katsuta ended the shakedown in second place, 2.5 seconds adrift of Rovanperä. Hyundai’s Ott Tänak and Thierry Neuville shared third position, both 2.9 seconds off the leading pace.
Championship leader Elfyn Evans and his Toyota colleague Sébastien Ogier followed in the classification, while Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux took seventh.
Sami Pajari, contesting his first full season in the top category, was unable to match the front-runners but still kept the gap to Rovanperä to just 5.5 seconds. The M-Sport Ford duo of Grégoire Munster and Josh McErlean both finished behind Pajari on the timesheets.
The shakedown took place in sunny weather near the town of Santa Brígida. It quickly became evident that starting position would have little to no effect on performance, as the Gran Canarian asphalt roads allow minimal corner-cutting.
The inaugural Rally Islas Canarias officially gets underway on Friday with six competitive stages on the schedule. The rally will conclude on Sunday.
Shakedown results from Rally Islas Canarias:
| POS | Driver | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Kalle Rovanperä | Toyota | 4:10.0 |
| 2. | Takamoto Katsuta | Toyota | +2.5 |
| 3. | Ott Tänak | Hyundai | +2.9 |
| 3. | Thierry Neuville | Hyundai | +2.9 |
| 5. | Elfyn Evans | Toyota | +4.1 |
| 6. | Sebastien Ogier | Toyota | +4.3 |
| 7. | Adrien Fourmaux | Hyundai | +4.7 |
| 8. | Sami Pajari | Toyota | +5.5 |
| 9. | Gregoire Munster | Ford | +7.2 |
| 10. | Josh McErlean | Ford | +7.9 |
Rally Islas Canarias itinerary (CET):
Thursday 24 April
10:01 SS1 Shakedown: Santa Brígida (6.26 km)
Friday 25 April
09:03 SS1 Valsequillo - Telde 1 (26.32 km)
10:49 SS2 Velleseco - Artenara 1 (15.27 km)
12:25 SS3 La Aldea - Mogán 1 (17.83 km)
14:35 Service
16:18 SS4 Valsequillo - Telde 2 (26.32 km)
18:04 SS5 Velleseco - Artenara 2 (15.27 km)
19:40 SS6 La Aldea - Mogán 2 (17.83 km)
Saturday 26 April
09:05 SS7 Moya - Gáldar 1 (24.09 km)
10:48 SS8 Arucas - Firgas - Teror 1 (13.75 km)
11:58 SS9 Tejeda - San Mateo 1 (23.30 km)
13:40 Service
16:05 SS10 Moya - Gáldar 2 (24.09 km)
17:48 SS11 Arucas - Firgas - Teror 2 (13.75 km)
18:58 SS12 Tejeda - San Mateo 2 (23.30 km)
21:35 SS13 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (1.80 km)
Sunday 27 April
09:10 SS14 Agüimes - Santa Lucía 1 (14.97 km)
10:05 SS15 Maspalomas 1 (13.47 km)
11:35 SS16 Costa Canaria (1.50 km)
12:21 SS17 Agüimes - Santa Lucía 2 (14.97 km)
14:15 SS18 Maspalomas 2 (13.47 km) *Power Stage
