Toyota is moving forward as a group, but remains cautious in the Canary Islands

At ToyotaThe objective is clear: to capitalize on positive momentum while avoiding costly mistakes on this type of terrain. Elfyn Evans, in particular, emphasizes the need to remain measured after a 2025 edition that proved more challenging than anticipated. The Welshman mentions a more stable base this season, while refusing to get carried away. "Last year, we perhaps played around with the settings too much and lost ground. This year, we have something more stable, so we'll see."he explains, before tempering any projections. "We will take nothing for granted. That's the rallyAnything can happen.

This cautious approach comes in a context where Toyota seems to be in a strong position. The idea of ​​a top-five finish dominated by the Japanese manufacturer is already circulating, but Evans prefers to remain focused on the essentials: executing cleanly, without getting sidetracked by premature scenarios. The Canary Islands Rally presents very specific challenges, with very clean, fast roads that offer little opportunity for error. Evans emphasizes the importance of precision and confidence in the pace notes, on a course where visibility can quickly become a determining factor.

"The margins are very small here, every detail counts. It's a very blind rally, you have to trust the pace notes."he insists. Added to this is the unstable weather, typical of a mountainous island. Between passing clouds, variations in visibility, and possible changes in grip, the conditions could reshuffle the cards at any moment.

Other drivers have expressed strong ambitions

While Evans remains measured, his teammates display a more assertive confidence. Oliver Solberg, fast from the shakedown, is relying on good feelings and positive experience on this rally, despite a frustrating retirement last year. "We won a lot of stages here last year. The car is running well and the feeling is good."he emphasizes, before clearly stating the collective objective: "Yes, a Toyota quintuple, that's the goal."

The same sentiment was echoed by Sami Pajari, who is rapidly gaining momentum after several podium finishes. The Finn makes no secret of his ambitions for victory, while acknowledging the difficulty of the task. "After a few second and third place finishes, I'd like to go for my first win. But it won't be easy.", he confides, also emphasizing the precision required on fast and technical special stages.

Katsuta, dedicated leader

Championship leader Takamoto Katsuta is taking a more measured approach. The Japanese player refuses to be distracted by his position in the standings, preferring to focus on his personal development. "Being in the lead is nice, but it doesn't really change my approach. I need to keep improving.""He explains. In a championship that he considers still long and uncertain, Katsuta insists on the importance of remaining consistent and focused, without projecting himself too early into the fight for the title.

At the end of this first day, Toyota is showing a solid performance, driven by a cohesive and experienced team. But behind this measured confidence, all the drivers share the same observation: in the Canary Islands, nothing is ever guaranteed. Between tiny gaps, changing conditions, and demanding special stages, the slightest mistake can be costly. More than ever, the key will lie in consistency and the ability to adapt—two qualities that Toyota seems determined to emphasize in order to translate its potential into results.

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