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 Following the Intercontinental Rally Challenge's action-packed double-header in South America last month, the series returns to European soil from 29 April-1 May with its first visit to the Canary Islands for the fourth round of what is already shaping up to be an exhilarating title battle.
With three different drivers tasting outright success so far this season, the chances of a fourth name being added to the winners' list looks highly likely, especially given the competitive nature of the entries, with Czech Republic's Tarmac ace Jan Kopecky, Britain's Guy Wilks, Portugal's Bruno Magalhaes and Spaniard Alberto Hevia among those firmly in contention to record their first victories of 2010.
Although the asphalt event is a mainstay of the Spanish championship, having run for 33 years, it has never featured on the IRC before now. Despite being a late addition to the schedule after Spain's intended IRC counter, Rally Principe de Asturias, ran into financial difficulties, the event is widely regarded for its strong organisation.
It's also a tough proposition for the crews with the stages a mixture of undulating roads and narrow and fast sections. Based on the island of Gran Canaria, the archipelago's third largest island, the most notable feature of the stages, however, is the abrasive surface, which is partly constructed from a volcanic laver. It means grip levels are high and in the event of rain will remain constant, although tyre wear can be at a premium.
With the stages frequently climbing and descending, drivers have to pay close attention to the speed they carry and the line they take for each corner to ensure optimum momentum is maintained at all times. That also puts the onus on a precise car set-up and pacenote preparation.
 Unlike the majority of Tarmac rallies in mainland Europe, the nature of the roads on Gran Canaria means corner cutting is far less prevalent. Because less gravel is being dragged onto the stages, road position is less of a factor than on other asphalt events, when running further down the order can prove to be a disadvantage. The likelihood of punctures is also lessened.
Friday morning's stages are located west of the permanent service park in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria's capital with the late afternoon tests taking place in the south. Saturday's action uses some of Friday's stages, albeit run in reverse.
Located approximately 100 kilometres off the Moroccan coast, the Canary Islands enjoy warm, sunny weather. Although cloudy patches are being forecast in the build-up to the rally, rain is not expected.
THE COMPETITORS
Juho Hanninen might top the IRC drivers' standings after three events but the Finn is the first to admit that preserving his title advantage will be a tall order beyond Rally Islas Canarias. Hanninen, from Finland, is a famed gravel specialist and concedes that he won't have the pace to challenge for victory on the island contest. The 28-year-old's preparations weren't helped by the fact he was forced to miss a planned pre-event test in Czech Republic due to the recent Europe-wide flight disruption, although the Rally Argentina winner will get to sample his Skoda Fabia Super 2000 during a short test on Monday (April 26).
 Unlike Hanninen, Guy Wilks did enjoy an extensive pre-rally test in northern Italy earlier this month. However, his return journey to his native United Kingdom was severely disrupted by the flight restrictions and meant he had to take two trains to reach his home in County Durham after his intended return flight was cancelled. Wilks is currently second in the drivers' standings and confident he can overhaul Hanninen at the top of the table.
Jan Kopecky is due to head to Gran Canaria on the back of contesting Rally 1000 Miglia, which forms the opening rounds of the European and Italian championships this weekend. The Czech has won twice on asphalt at IRC level and was victorious when the series last included a round on Spanish soil in September 2009. To help Kopecky emulate that success, the factory Skoda Motorsport team has sent two Tarmac-spec Fabias to Gran Canaria for his and team-mate Hanninen's use instead of converting the cars campaigned in South America for asphalt running.
Alberto Hevia was Kopecky's main rival for honours in Spain last season and the 35-year-old Spaniard will again provide formidable opposition during his seasonal IRC appearance at the wheel of a Fabia S2000.
Defending IRC champion Kris Meeke posted his second retirement of the season in Argentina so will be hoping for better fortune in Gran Canaria. Meeke has sought advice from his friend Dani Sordo, a frontrunner in the World Rally Championship and a former Canarias regular, about the characteristics of Gran Canaria's challenging roads. Meeke will be back behind the wheel of the Peugeot UK-backed 207 S2000 he used on January's Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo, while new team-mate Thierry Neuville, who begins his six-event IRC campaign in a second Kronos Racing-run 207, will use the car Meeke piloted in Brazil and Argentina.
 Bruno Magalhaes hopes his return to European soil will kick-start his IRC bid after he admitted to struggling for pace and confidence on the opening three rounds in his Peugeot Portugal-supported 207. Although the three-time Portuguese champion has never competed on Gran Canaria before, his co-driver Carlos Magalhaes partnered Miguel Campos to victory on the island in 2003.
Stohl Racing's Daniel Oliveira can also count on the services of a former winning co-driver in the shape of Carlos del Barrio, who won on the island alongside Jesus Puras in 1997 and 2002. Oliveira, who drives a Peugeot 207, is embarking on his second asphalt rally.
Franz Wittmann skipped the South America double-header last month but returns to IRC duty two weeks after winning the German championship-counting Hessen Rallye Vogelsberg in his Interwetten Racing Peugeot 207 S2000. The Austrian impressed on the season-opening Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo before an off put him out on the final night of the event.
Irishman Daniel Barry returns to IRC action in his Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX following a promising showing on his series debut in Monte Carlo earlier this season. Jonathan Perez has the latest Evolution X model at his disposal, while Jose Barrios is the top Subaru runner in his Impreza.
Four Ford Fiesta drivers will fight it out for IRC 2WD Cup glory on Rally Islas Canarias, with Yeray Lemes expected to lead the charge in his R2-specification example. The local driver has experience at world championship level and has been tipped as one of Spain's most promising drivers for the future.
THE EXPECTATIONS
Juho Hanninen (Finland), Skoda Fabia S2000: "It's going to be very tough because there will be lots of good Tarmac drivers fighting for the victory, and Tarmac is never easy for me. Because of this there's no point trying to beat them and risk a mistake, so I will be going there with the aim of being relaxed and trying to get some points."
Guy Wilks (United Kingdom), Skoda Fabia S2000: "I don't know what to expect before the recce but, as a driver, I'm comfortable in that situation because it's been that way many times before. We had a good test but now we've got to fine-tune the car to the abrasive road surface."
Thierry Neuville (Belgium), Peugeot 207 S2000: "The most important thing is to get the experience because this is only the second time I have done the IRC in a Peugeot 207. I don't feel any pressure at the moment but I want that to change because I want to be in a fight this season."
TV TIMES
Eurosport, Europe's largest television channel, will show highlights of each day of the rally. Highlights will also be available at www.rally-irc.com.
Friday 30 April
23:00-23:25: Day one highlights delayed (Eurosport)
Saturday 1 May
08:30-09:00: Day one highlights repeated (Eurosport)
23:00-23:30: Day two highlights delayed (Eurosport)
24:30-25:00: Day one highlights repeated (Eurosport Asia-Pacific)
25:00-25:30: Day two highlights repeated (Eurosport Asia-Pacific)
Sunday 2 May
24:00-24:30: Magazine (Eurosport)
Monday 3 May
03:30-04:00: Magazine repeated (Eurosport Asia-Pacific)
Tuesday 4 May
05:30-06:00: Magazine repeated (Eurosport Asia-Pacific)
All times are CET
EVENT ESSENTIALS
Event: Rally Islas Canarias
Starts: Thursday 29 April
Finishes: Saturday 1 May
Entries received: 60
IRC appearances: None
2009 winners: N/A
Surface: asphalt
Number of stages: 15
Special stage distance: 221.59 kilometres
Liaison distance: 448.80kms
Total distance: 670.39kms
Itinerary (all times shown are local): Ceremonial Start (Thursday 29 April): 20:30hrs; Leg one (Friday 30 April): Start, 08:00hrs; SS1: Moya 1 (8.61 kilometres), 09:00hrs; SS2: Fontanales (24.85kms), 09:22hrs; SS3: Teror 1 (11.83kms), 10:20hrs; Service A: Plaza de Canarias, 11:35hrs; SS4: Moya 2 (8.61kms), 12:55hrs; SS5: Fontanales 2 (24.85kms), 13:17hrs; SS6: Teror 2 (11.83kms), 14:15hrs; Service B: Plaza de Canarias, 16:00hrs; SS7: Era del Cardon (8.92kms), 17:33hrs; SS8: Ingenio (29.95kms); 17:55hrs; SS9: La Atalaya de Santa Brigida (7.80kms), 19:03hrs; Service C: Plaza de Canarias, 19:43hrs. Leg two (Saturday 1 May): Service D: Plaza de Canarias, 08:00hrs; SS10: Santa Brigida 1 (7.80kms), 08:48hrs: SS11: Telde 1 (25.26kms), 09:28hrs; SS12: Aguimes 1 (9.11kms), 10:23hrs; Service E: Plaza de Canarias, 11:56hrs; SS13: Santa Brigida 2 (7.80kms), 12:54hrs; SS14: Telde 2 (25.26kms), 13:34hrs; SS15: Aguimes 2 (9.11kms), 14:29hrs; Service F Plaza de Canarias, 15:37hrs; Finish: Santa Catalina Park, 15:47hrs.
LEADING ENTRIES (UNSEEDED)
Juho Hanninen (FIN)/Mikko Markkula (FIN) Skoda Fabia S2000
Guy Wilks (GBR)/Phil Pugh (GBR) Skoda Fabia S2000
Jan Kopecky (CZE)/Petr Stary (CZE) Skoda Fabia S2000
Kris Meeke (GBR)/Paul Nagle (IRL) Peugeot 207 S2000
Bruno Magalhaes (POR)/Carlos Magalhaes (POR) Peugeot 207 S2000
Alberto Hevia (ESP)/Alberto Iglesias (ESP) Skoda Fabia S2000
Sergio Vallejo (ESP)/Diego Vallejo (ESP) Ford Fiesta S2000
Daniel Oliveira (BRA)/Carlos del Barrio (ESP) Peugeot 207 S2000
Franz Wittmann (AUT)/Klaus Wicha (GER) Peugeot 207 S2000
Thierry Neuville (BEL)/Nicolas Klinger (FRA) Peugeot 207 S2000
CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS
Drivers after round three of 12
1 Juho Hanninen (Finland) 24pts
2 Guy Wilks (United Kingdom) 19pts
3 Jan Kopecky (Czech Republic) 15pts
4 Kris Meeke (United Kingdom) 10pts
= Mikko Hirvonen (Finland) 10pts
6 Bruno Magalhaes (Portugal) 9pts
7 Nicolas Vouilloz (France) 6pts
8 Gabriel Pozzo (Argentina) 5pts
= Stephane Sarrazin (France) 5pts
10 Federico Villagra (Argentina) 4pts etc
Manufacturers after round three of 12
1 Skoda 46pts
2 Peugeot 24pts
3 M-Sport 14pts
4 Ralliart 6pts
5 Subaru 5pts
2WD Drivers after round three of 12
1 Kris Princen 10pts
= Marcos Tokarski 10pts
= Rafael Tulio 10pts
4 Pierre Campana 8pts
= Luis Gius 8pts
= Pablo Pelaez 8pts
= Luis Tedesco 8pts
8 Thomas Barral 6pts
= Ulysses Bertholdo 6pts
= Alicia Reina 6pts etc
2WD Manufacturers after round three of 12
1 Peugeot 36pts
2 M-Sport 22pts
3 Abarth 19pts
4 Honda 8pts
5 Skoda 5pts
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