Juha Kankkunen Reacts to Missed WRC Canary Sweep

WRC, Sportrik Media - Juha Kankkunen has expressed disappointment after Toyota Gazoo Racing narrowly missed a complete sweep at the 2026 Canary Islands Rally, despite securing the top four positions.

The Japanese manufacturer had been on course to surpass last year’s result, but those ambitions ended when Oliver Solberg retired following a crash on the penultimate stage.

Even so, Toyota delivered a dominant result, with Sebastien Ogier taking victory ahead of Elfyn Evans and Sami Pajari, while Takamoto Katsuta completed the top four.

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“It’s a shame for Oliver, he was driving a very strong rally. But still, we secured the top four positions. Last year we had a clean sweep, and this time I was hoping for even more,” Kankkunen said.

Solberg’s situation has prompted internal discussion, as the young driver continues to show strong pace but has struggled to convert it into consistent results throughout the season.

Kankkunen remains confident in Solberg’s potential, highlighting the need for improved tactical awareness and execution.

“He is fast, no doubt about that. He just needs to think more about the strategy and refine everything. Then everything will be fine,” he added.

After five rounds, the drivers’ championship remains highly competitive. Evans leads the standings with 101 points, while Katsuta is just two points behind.

Pajari’s run of four consecutive podiums has elevated him to third in the standings with 72 points, reinforcing Toyota’s strength across its driver line-up.

Kankkunen believes the current situation points to a closely contested title battle throughout the remainder of the 2026 season.

“The championship fight looks very balanced, and I expect it to remain tight for the rest of the season,” he concluded.

The World Rally Championship will continue in Portugal in early May, where the competitive landscape is expected to evolve further in the fight for the title.