The Finnish star got behind the wheel of the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 on Spanish asphalt. Rovanperä tested the car’s setup in preparation for the brand-new Rally Islas Canarias, which will take place in a few weeks. However, Toyota is not testing its equipment in the Canaries, but instead on the mainland in the Extremadura region of Spain.
Rovanperä’s start to the WRC season has been anything but ideal. The two-time world champion finished fourth in Monte Carlo in January and, to everyone’s surprise, only managed fifth place on the snowy roads of Sweden in February. In Kenya in March, he failed to score any points at all after the rally ended prematurely for him on Sunday due to a technical fault.
The Finnish driver has complained during the early season that he hasn’t been able to get to grips with Hankook’s new tyres. With the hybrid unit also removed, Rovanperä has often been “lost” with his setup at the start of rallies. It’s clear that Wednesday’s test was extremely important in that regard, as there’s really no room left for off-form events.
Watch below as Rovanperä commands the Toyota Rally1 car on a Spanish asphalt road.
M-Sport Ford has also continued its pre-event testing for Rally Islas Canarias. Following Grégoire Munster, it was Irishman Josh McErlean’s turn behind the wheel on Wednesday.
McErlean stepped up somewhat unexpectedly to a Rally1 car for this season, and his start at the top level hasn’t been particularly spectacular. Of course, expectations for him have also been fairly modest. In the season-opening Rallye Monte Carlo, McErlean finished seventh, but in Sweden he lost time in a snowbank, and the rally in Kenya also proved challenging. However, he did manage to score a point in Africa by finishing tenth.
In the Canaries, McErlean is at least theoretically in a better position compared to the top stars, as Rally Islas Canarias is a brand-new event for everyone, meaning the experience gap is smaller.
Watch below to see how McErlean got on during his test day.
Rally Islas Canarias will take place from 24–27 April. The event will feature 18 asphalt special stages, covering just over 300 kilometres in total. The rally will be held on Gran Canaria, the main island of the Canaries, with the service park located in the island’s capital, Las Palmas.
