The entry list for the 48 Rally Islas Canarias begins to take shape. Although the season in the FIA ​​European Rally Championship (FIA ERC) has not yet started, it will do so in a few weeks in Hungary, the Gran Canaria event has already begun to receive entries with a notable international profile.

Among them, that of the winners of the last edition, the French Yoann Bonato and Benjamin Boulloud. Current French champions after winning their fifth national title in 2023, they will repeat on the island of Gran Canaria with a Citroën C3 Rally2.

Without a doubt, for the Bonato-Boulloud couple the Rally Islas Canarias is a talismanic event. In addition to the victory they achieved brilliantly in the 2023 edition, they were second in 2020 and third in 2022. In fact, on their route map around the island they barely show a blur, which coincides with their abandonment in 2021 when they also were bidding for the top positions.

With the entry of Yoann and Benjamin, the line-up of favorites begins to fill with names that will be protagonists in the FIA ​​ERC. In fact, and although they are not yet entered, the current European champion, Hayden Paddon, has recently announced that he will defend his throne with a Hyundai i20 N Rally2. Another driver with extensive international experience such as Mads Ostberg (Citroën C3 Rally2) has also indicated that he will continue the continental competition full-time, as well as the young Jon Armstrong (Ford Fiesta Rally2).

Female protagonism
Without diverting international attention, the Bulgarian Ekaterina Stratieva will land again in Gran Canaria to compete in the Rally Islas Canarias that she has already participated in previously in 2012, 2013, 2020 and 2021. For her part, she will make her debut in the Cristiana Oprea test, a young Romanian who has been competing internationally for several seasons. Both Ekaterina and Cristiana will take the wheel of their respective Rally4 category vehicles.

It should be noted that the entries period will end on Tuesday, April 16 at 8:00 p.m. The official list of entries will be published on Tuesday, April 23 (2:00 p.m.), the same day of the official presentation of the event will take place at the Gran Canaria Arena (1:00 p.m.). All information regarding this can be consulted on the official website of this international event: www.rallyislascanarias.com.