WRC, Sportrik Media - Sebastien Ogier holds a narrow lead at the 2026 Canary Rally, with just 5.3 seconds separating him from Oliver Solberg, keeping the fight for victory wide open.
The leading duo has begun to establish a gap over the rest of the field, with Elfyn Evans in third place trailing by more than 18 seconds. This has effectively created a two-driver battle at the front of the rally.
Ogier acknowledged that the competition at the top remains extremely tight, with time gaps largely unchanged compared to the previous day.
“The gap is pretty much the same as yesterday. We lost a bit of time this morning, especially on the second stage, which was quite tricky, so we were slightly more cautious. In the final part, I enjoyed the driving more and felt better,” Ogier explained.
Weather conditions also played a role, with rain affecting the final stage of the morning loop. For Ogier, the rainfall had a direct impact on his performance in the closing sector.
“We were about two seconds ahead in the middle sectors, but then we lost a bit more than two seconds in the final part. You can’t control things like that in rallying, so you just have to accept it. For now, the situation still looks quite good,” he added.
Heading into the afternoon stages, Ogier indicated that no major setup changes were planned, as he remained satisfied with the car’s performance since the previous day.
“I have to say, since yesterday afternoon I’ve been quite happy with the car. I’m sure Oliver is a strong competitor, so there’s no reason to change anything at the moment. We just need to keep pushing and do our best,” he said.
Ogier also highlighted the importance of adapting to potential rain later in the day, particularly on asphalt surfaces where grip levels can change rapidly.
“When it starts to rain, you need to slow down slightly and find good traction. You can also adjust the differential settings a bit. These are small changes, but on asphalt, where precision is key, even minor adjustments can make a big difference,” he concluded.
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