Thierry Neuville’s difficult start to the 2026 World Rally Championship season continued at the Rally Islas Canarias, where the Belgian driver saw his deficit to the pace-setters grow during Friday’s action. The 2024 world champion struggled to find rhythm on the Gran Canaria asphalt stages, falling further behind his Toyota Gazoo Racing rivals as the event progressed.
Neuville’s Hyundai i20 N Rally1 was notably off the pace compared to the dominant Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 entries, which locked out the top five positions in Friday’s stages. According to RallyJournal.com’s coverage of the shakedown, Toyota drivers occupied the first five spots, with Oliver Solberg setting the benchmark time before being joined by teammate Takamoto Katsuta, Sébastien Ogier, Sami Pajari, and Elfyn Evans – all within just over a second of each other.
The Belgian star’s difficulties were evident from the outset, as he admitted after his shakedown run that he was “still searching for the right feeling on the island’s asphalt roads.” Neuville acknowledged the challenges facing his team, stating: “I have experienced quality times in my career, but right now we are going through a tough time. That makes things more challenging. I don’t want to give up – I just want to keep carrying on, even if things are not as simple as they should be.”
Neuville’s struggles continued into the competitive stages on Friday, where he was unable to match the pace set by the Toyota contingent. Whereas Ogier built an early lead by winning four of the five stages, Neuville found himself increasingly distanced from the front runners as the Belgian driver grappled with the demanding asphalt conditions that have historically favored Toyota’s machinery.
The Rally Islas Canarias presented a particular challenge for Hyundai, with their drivers consistently trailing the Toyota contingent throughout Friday’s proceedings. Adrien Fourmaux emerged as the best-placed Hyundai driver in sixth position during the shakedown, but he was already 3.4 seconds off Solberg’s benchmark time – a deficit that equated to roughly half a second per kilometer on the test section.
Neuville’s situation was further complicated by the lingering effects of his crash during the previous round in Croatia, where he had been on course for what would have been Hyundai’s first victory of the 2026 season before retiring on the final stage. The Belgian driver acknowledged that the disappointment from that incident was still affecting his approach, though he remained determined to persevere through the difficult period.
As Rally Islas Canarias progressed into Saturday, Neuville continued to face an uphill battle to close the gap to the front runners. The changing weather conditions, including rain showers that affected grip levels on the stages, added another layer of complexity to an already challenging weekend for the Hyundai driver, who was working to regain confidence and competitiveness in his Hyundai i20 N Rally1.
The Belgian driver’s perseverance was evident despite the difficulties, as he maintained his focus on improving throughout the weekend rather than dwelling on the results. Neuville’s commitment to working through the challenges reflects his experience as a former world champion, even as he confronts one of the more difficult periods of his WRC career to date.
For ongoing updates on Thierry Neuville’s progress at the Rally Islas Canarias and the latest developments in the 2026 World Rally Championship, fans are encouraged to follow official WRC channels and team communications as the event reaches its conclusion.
