Kalle Rovanperä, the Finnish rally star and two-time world champion, has made history at the 2025 WRC Rally Canary Islands, which took place in Gran Canaria from 24 to 27 April. Just 24 years old, Rovanperä dominated the competition in unprecedented fashion, winning each of the first nine stages and breaking his own record for consecutive pole positions. His performance has left the rally world breathless, with Autosport.com describing it as “one of the most impressive starts in WRC history”. The display of skill from Rovanperä and his co-driver Jonne Halttunen has raised expectations high as the 2025 season moves towards its next challenges.

The Canary Islands Rally was the first of its kind in the WRC series, and its 18 special stages offered a unique challenge for the drivers. The asphalt surfaces, mountain roads and varying grip made the competition technically demanding. Rovanperä started the rally strongly at Thursday’s shakedown in Santa Brígida, where he was 2.5 seconds faster than the others, as reported by DirtFish. On Friday, he continued his crushing pace, winning all six special stages and increasing his lead to 26.8 seconds over teammate Sébastien Ogier. Iltalehti.fi reported that Rovanperä was “on his own calendar page”, leaving even Ogier, who is considered an asphalt specialist, in the shade.

On Saturday, Rovanperä continued on the same track, winning the first three special stages and increasing the gap to Ogier to 36.9 seconds, as Ilta-Sanomat reported. His performance was historic: no driver has started a rally so dominantly in the 2020s. Rovanperä surpassed Sébastien Loeb’s record from the 2005 Rally of Corsica, where Loeb won all 12 special stages, but in the Canary Islands Rovanperä had the opportunity to break this record as well. His previous personal best, 13 consecutive pole positions at the Rally Estonia 2023, was already close to being surpassed, as Iltalehti.fi reported. Rovanperä’s comments in X showed that he was focused on driving: “It feels good, I’ve found the flow,” he wrote after SS4.

Rovanperä’s success was not just a matter of driver skill. The Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 car’s setup and Hankook’s new asphalt tires worked perfectly. Rovanperä praised his team for the car’s balance, although he admitted in an X-post after SS7 that there were problems with the gears. His background in track racing, especially in the Porsche Carrera Cup, gave him an advantage on the track-like roads of the Canary Islands, as noted by Mundodeportivo.com. Rally expert Henri Haapamäki on Yle.fi emphasized that the clean asphalt and even conditions of the Canary Islands suited Rovanperä’s driving style, which was evident in his ability to control tire temperatures and driving lines.

The Finnish colour of the race was added by Sami Pajari, who drove strongly in fourth place before his retirement on Saturday, as Iltalehti.fi reports. However, Toyota’s dominance was in the hands of Rovanperä, as the team held onto the top positions. Hyundai and M-Sport fell behind, and Thierry Neuville complained on WRC.com about the car’s lack of grip. Rovanperä’s season had started sluggishly – fourth in Monte Carlo, fifth in Sweden and a retirement in Kenya – but the victory in the Canary Islands brought him back into the championship fight. Before the rally, he was 57 points behind Elfyn Evans, but the Canary Islands’ points narrowed the gap significantly, as the Atleetti.fi points table shows.

Rovanperä’s performance was also accompanied by drama, as Hyundai raised doubts about the legality of Toyota’s car, leading to an FIA investigation into the engine and steering system, as reported by Motorsport.com. Rovanperä responded to the criticism in Jerez: “Our team is clean, we drive honestly,” he told RallyJournal.com. His determination and composure under pressure show why he is considered the best of his generation. Fans in Finland and internationally are excited, and in X the hashtag #KR69 trended during the rally.

The Rally of the Canary Islands was not only a sporting but also a visual experience. The mountain landscapes and sea views of Gran Canaria brought a unique atmosphere to the competition, as described by Lupinus.fi. Rovanperä’s record-breaking start has set the bar high for the rest of the season, especially the Portuguese gravel rally. His ability to combine the enthusiasm of youth and the experience of a champion makes him a fearsome opponent. As Rovanperä accelerates towards his third championship, the rally world is closely watching to see where “Kallen’s show” will go next.