Canary Islands Rally: Impressive Popular Enthusiasm

In Las Palmas, and more generally throughout Gran Canaria, it's all anyone is talking about. This weekend marks the second visit of the World Rally Championship to the small Spanish island, located off the northwest coast of Africa. Here, perhaps more than anywhere else, motorsport is a religion: unsurprisingly, the stands of the Estadio de Gran Canaria, which is hosting the World Rally Championship headquarters this weekend, are packed. rallyThe stadiums were packed last night for the Super Special, which officially kicked off the season. There's little doubt about the huge crowds expected in the coming hours for the second run on this temporary track, laid out just a stone's throw from the pitch usually trodden by the players of the current 7th-placed team in the provisional LaLiga 2 standings, the second tier of Spanish professional football.

A highly acclaimed Canary Islands Rally

Several pilots and co-pilots even confided in us: “During the reconnaissance runs, we encountered a lot of traffic. As a result, it wasn’t always easy to find the right lines with all the people we met on the road. That’s part of the charm of this rally; there are a lot of people on this island.”"As Alexandre Coria explained to us, for example, after the reconnaissance runs. We saw it again this morning, since the third special stage of the rally was simply cancelled due to too many spectators parked in prohibited areas. Despite the security measures in place, it's clear: containing all these people is no easy task. Let's not forget that the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands has one of the highest concentrations of motorsport enthusiasts in Spain. Rally fans are especially spoiled this year, not only with the two runs through the stadium Super Special Stage, but also because of the quality of the field."

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The Canaries are fully behind their compatriots

Last night, when he lined up at the start of this first and unusual timed section of the rally, the crowd was in unison. Dani Sordo and Candido Carrera are making their grand return to the World Rally Championship this week and have the public's approval on their side. Every move made by the man with three victories in WRC This was evident in the impressive crowds he erupted in, proof that he hadn't lost any of his popularity despite the two years he wasn't competing in the top category of his sport. In the other categories, there was also plenty to cheer about for the Spanish spectators, with, among others, Alejandro Cachón, considered by many to be a strong favorite in WRC2. Let's hope this wonderful celebration continues, but hopefully with a bit more decorum so that the spectacle can be enjoyed by all.