For the first time, Rally Islas Canarias will be part of the WRC calendar when it takes place in April. Spanish driver Suarez has been working behind the scenes to secure a top-level car for the event.
Now, Suarez has confirmed that he will compete in the rally with a Ford Puma Rally1, which he will rent from M-Sport Ford.
The 34-year-old has spent recent years competing in national rally championships in Spain. In the early 2010s, he attempted to break into the WRC through the junior categories, but a permanent spot at the sport’s top level remained out of reach.
However, in just a few months, he will get the chance to compete against the world’s best drivers with competitive machinery. Unlike most WRC competitors, Suarez is very familiar with the rally, having participated eight times before.
“I have dreamed about this for as long as I have had dreams. The first WRC rally I ever watched was Rally Portugal in 1996, and from that moment, I knew what I wanted,” Suarez told Spanish outlet Overall Media.
“I came close in the Junior WRC, but it didn’t happen. Now life has given me another chance.”
The last time Suarez competed in the WRC was in 2019, when he took part in Rally Spain on tarmac. This time, he will make his debut in the WRC’s top category.
“I will be driving an M-Sport Rally1 car – that’s all there is to it. Now we just need to test, see how things go and how I feel. But the warrior inside me is ready to go flat out,” Suarez said.
Rally Islas Canarias, held in Gran Canaria, is scheduled for 24–27 April. The next round of the WRC season takes place next week in Sweden.
