The FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) is set to return to Spain next season on the asphalt roads of the Canary Islands.

Rally Islas Canarias, as it is officially known, will move from the European Rally Championship (ERC) - where it has been a fixture since 2016 - to WRC in 2025 and 2026, following in the footsteps of Tet Rally Latvia and ORLEN 80th Rally Poland.

The WRC most recently visited Spain in 2022 in the Catalunyan beachside resort of Salou. The Rally Islas Canarias was first run in 1977 and the 2025 race will take place exclusively on Gran Canaria. It is then hoped that the race will expand to include other islands in the region for its 50th edition in 2026 and bring with it large tourist crowds who visit the islands on holiday.

The current season of the WRC sees Thierry Neuville of Hyundai Motorsport leading after two races in Monte Carlo and Sweden.

words: Mike Booth
pictures: Red Bull