Exciting entry for Rally Islas Canarias

A total of 76 cars are set to contest Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Ingles, which takes place on the island of Gran Canaria from 14-16 April.

Thirty-five crews have entered the main Intercontinental Rally Challenge event with a further 41 competitors registered for the national-level rally, which counts as a round of the Spanish championship.

Juho Hanninen is the number one seed for the main rally in his Skoda Motorsport Fabia Super 2000. The defending IRC champion is one of five drivers competing in the Czech machine, which include Toni Gardemeister, who is making his first appearance with his self-run TGS Worldwide operation, and last year’s winner Jan Kopecky.

Rallye Monte-Carlo victor Bryan Bouffier, Briton Guy Wilks and Belgium’s Thierry Neuville are among the six Peugeot 207 S2000 drivers on the entry, which also features two factory PROTON Satria Neo Super 2000s for second seed Giandomenico Basso and PG Andersson.

The IRC Production Cup will be a straight fight between Subaru Impreza runner Jose L Barrios and Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer exponent Gustavo Sosa, while 20 drivers will be in contention for IRC 2WD Cup honours. Yeray Lemes, the first two-wheel-driver finisher on the event last year and reigning IRC 2WD Cup champion Harry Hunt will be among the contenders for victory.