Gran Canaria dreams of the elite of motor sport

 

Motorsport is in fashion. This has been seen at the beginning of the year with the announcement that Madrid will host a Formula 1 urban race for the next 10 years. A great agreement (not without controversy) that has focused headlines and news in recent days.

 

In the Canary Islands, the glamor of Formula 1 is a little far away (although Tenerife dreams of hosting at least some preseason tests with its new “Motor Circuit”); However, there is a first-class event that is very close to reaching the archipelago, specifically Gran Canaria.

 

 

This is the World Rally Championship (better known by its acronym WRC), which seems to be very close to arriving in Gran Canaria in 2025. The championship is the elite of rallying, with historical champions such as Sébastien Loeb, Sébastien Ogier, Collin McRae or the recent Dakar champion, Carlos Sainz.

 

The bells began to ring a little less than a year ago, when several sports newspapers reported on the willingness of the WRC promoter to take one of the 12 events to the archipelago, making the famous Rally Islas Canarias part of the elite of the rally world. .

 

This information gave consistency to the rumors that began to spread when in 2022 it was confirmed that the legendary Rally of Catalonia would not be part of the WRC calendar in 2023, leaving Spain without representation in the championship.

 

Those desires to reach Gran Canaria on the part of the WRC promoter were reciprocated by the island council, which through the sports advisor, Aridany Romero, gave rise to a first positive contact. Romero stated in an interview that the conversations are advanced and that there is a willingness on the part of the island institution to host a test on the island. 

 

However, the large quantities handled in the competition can put a brake on their arrival on the island. “These are obscene amounts, almost double that of the European Championship (...) political will will be needed on the part of other ministries and the Government of the Canary Islands”

 

It should be noted that the destinations that host a test of this championship experience a tourist boom During that week. Without going any further, for the Monte Carlo Rally, tourist packages are offered in specialized agencies that start at 585 euros.