Hankook has delivered a strong showing in extreme conditions at Round 5 of the FIA World Rally Championship, Rally Islas Canarias 2026, reinforcing its position as the championship’s exclusive tyre supplier.

Held from 23 to 26 April on Spain’s Gran Canaria Island, the rally marked its 50th anniversary and its second year as an official WRC round. The event covered 322.6 kilometres across 18 special stages, with a mix of abrasive volcanic asphalt, steep elevation changes, and rapidly shifting weather conditions.

Fog and intermittent rain at higher altitudes added another layer of difficulty, placing a premium on tyre consistency and driver confidence. Even the opening Super Special Stage, run in a head-to-head format, showed how small performance differences could impact overall results.

Hankook supplied its Ventus Z215 and Z210 tarmac rally tyres for the event. Both tyres handled the demanding surface conditions and high-speed cornering, delivering stable grip across the varied terrain.

Sébastien Ogier secured his first win of the 2026 season for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, with the team locking out the podium. In the drivers’ standings, Elfyn Evans now leads on 101 points, closely followed by Takamoto Katsuta on 99.

The championship now heads to Rally de Portugal from 7 to 10 May, one of the toughest rounds on the calendar due to its predominantly gravel stages. Hankook will also activate its Brand World presence in the service park, using motorsport displays and interactive experiences to engage fans.

Since becoming the sole tyre supplier to all WRC classes in 2025, Hankook has continued to demonstrate its capability at the highest level. Data gathered from more than 70 global motorsport championships feeds directly into its research and development, supporting ongoing performance gains across its Ventus range.