Hankook Supports WRC Round 5 as Exclusive Tire Supplier
In addition to rough asphalt surfaces & dramatic elevation changes, racers faced dense fog & localized rainfall, causing rapid shifts in road conditions…
Hankook Tire & Technology, the exclusive tire supplier to the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), has concluded Round 5 of the 2026 WRC, Rally Islas Canarias, held from April 23 to 26 in the Canary Islands, Spain. First launched in 1977, Rally Islas Canarias celebrated its 50th anniversary this year. After joining the WRC calendar last season, the rally completed its second edition as an official championship round. The event unfolded across Gran Canaria Island, centered around Las Palmas, spanning approximately 322.61 kilometers (200 miles) over 18 Special Stages (SS).
The rally took place on a highly demanding course featuring the rough, high-abrasion asphalt surfaces characteristic of volcanic terrain, combined with repeated dramatic elevation changes. In the higher-altitude stages above 1,000 meters (3,280 feet), dense fog and localized rainfall caused rapid shifts in road conditions. On the opening day, the Super Special Stage at the BP Ultimate – Circuito Islas Canarias featured side-by-side racing on a shared course layout.
Hankook supported consistent performance by supplying its advanced tarmac rally tires, the Ventus Z215 and Ventus Z210, specifically engineered for extreme conditions, company officials stated in a press release.
WRC Round 5 Results
In this fifth round, Sébastien Ogier of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team claimed his first victory of the season. The team swept the podium in this round, while in the Drivers’ Championship, teammate Elfyn Evans leads with 101 points, with Takamoto Katsuta close behind on 99 points.
Next Up – Hankook at WRC Round 6, Vodafone Rally de Portugal
The 2026 WRC season now moves to Round 6, the Vodafone Rally de Portugal, scheduled May 7–10 in northern Portugal. With the majority of its route consisting of unpaved surfaces, the rally is widely regarded as one of the most demanding events in the championship, noted the release. During the event, Hankook will operate a dedicated “Brand World” booth within the service park.
