LAS PALMAS, Canary Islands — Takamoto Katsuta continued his dominant start to the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship season by winning the opening super special stage of the Rally Islas Canarias on Thursday evening, extending his winning streak to three consecutive victories.
The Japanese driver, competing for Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT, was fastest through the 1.89-kilometre street circuit set up around the pitch at Estadio de Las Palmas, beating his teammate Sami Pajari by four-tenths of a second. Katsuta’s winning time came amid a festive atmosphere, with the stadium approximately two-thirds full of enthusiastic local fans.
The stage, run under the lights as a spectacle opener to the fourth round of the WRC season, featured a tight layout with two small jumps and frequent direction changes. Katsuta praised the unique challenge after completing his run.
“It’s always special to drive in a stadium like this,” Katsuta said in comments reported by L’Équipe. “The surface was solid, the grip was there, and we could push. It’s a great way to start the rally, especially with the fans making so much noise.”
His victory marks the third straight rally win for Katsuta, following triumphs at the Safari Rally Kenya and Croatia Rally earlier in the season. Those results have propelled him to the early lead in the drivers’ championship standings.
Behind Katsuta and Pajari, the battle for third place was tight. Sébastien Ogier of Toyota and Adrien Fourmaux of Hyundai both clocked identical times, finishing 1.4 seconds off the pace in a shared sixth position. Their controlled performances contrasted with the more flamboyant — but time-costing — displays of Jon Armstrong of M-Sport Ford, whose slides entertained the crowd but cost him valuable seconds.
Elfyn Evans, another Toyota driver and title contender, finished further back, losing 1.9 seconds to Katsuta, while Oliver Solberg was 2.0 seconds adrift. Neither cited mechanical issues, instead attributing the gaps to the difficulty of finding rhythm on the unconventional asphalt surface.
The opening stage, while worth championship points, carries less weight than the main competitive sections that begin Friday. Nevertheless, Katsuta’s performance underscores the momentum he has carried since his breakthrough win in Kenya.
“We knew this stage would be about confidence and precision,” said a Toyota team representative speaking to RACER. “Takamoto delivered exactly what we needed — a clean, fast run that puts pressure on the opposition right away.”
The Rally Islas Canarias continues Friday with six stages across the mountainous interior of Gran Canaria, ranging from narrow, technical roads to faster, flowing sections. Competitors will return to Las Palmas Stadium at night for a second super special stage before the final leg on Saturday.
Weather forecasts indicate dry conditions for the mountain stages, though temperatures are expected to drop significantly with elevation. Teams have noted that tire choice and brake management will be critical factors in the coming days.
For Katsuta, the immediate goal remains extending his lead in the championship. A strong finish in the Canary Islands could provide a crucial buffer as the season heads toward its midway point.
As the cars prepare to leave the stadium atmosphere behind for the island’s challenging terrain, one thing is clear: the driver who began the rally under the lights in Las Palmas arrives in the mountains with the momentum of a three-time consecutive winner.
Follow Archysport for continuing coverage of the Rally Islas Canarias, including stage results, championship updates, and technical analysis throughout the weekend.
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