Sun, Speed, Asphalt: WRC Rally Islas Canarias Powers Forward with Hankook Tire

- Round 4 of the 2025 FIA World Rally Championship set for April 24 to 27 on the tarmac stages of Spain’s Gran Canaria
- WRC’s first full-tarmac rally of the season draws attention as the championship heads to an all-new host destination
- Ventus Z215 and Ventus Z210 tires are expected to deliver peak performance under high asphalt temperatures

Seoul, Korea, April 23, 2025 — Round 4 of the 2025 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), will take place from April 24 to 27 in Spain’s Canary Islands, as Hankook Tire continues its role as exclusive tire supplier for the series. The event marks the first appearance of the storied Rally Islas Canarias on the WRC calendar, further showcasing Hankook’s commitment to global motorsport excellence.

Rally Islas Canarias brings decades of rally heritage, having hosted the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) and Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) since 1977. The rally unfolds on Gran Canaria, the heart of the Canary Islands and home to the capital city Las Palmas, set against a striking backdrop of dramatic volcanic peaks and scenic coastlines.

This event marks the season’s first full-tarmac rally, with all stages run entirely on asphalt. The 301.3-kilometer course consists of 18 special stages (SS), including a fan-favorite Super Special Stage set in Las Palmas.

The rally presents a demanding combination of steep elevation changes and narrow, winding asphalt road conditions that test not only a driver’s technical skills but also the tire’s grip. High surface temperatures further accelerate tire wear, adding a layer of strategic complexity and making tire management a key factor in rally performance.

Hankook Tire is supplying its tarmac rally lineup for the event: the Ventus Z215 and Ventus Z210. The Ventus Z215 is engineered for maximum cornering stability and handling precision on dry surfaces, while the Ventus Z210 is built to deliver superior grip and efficient water evacuation under wet and adverse weather conditions. Together, these tires are expected to support WRC drivers in pushing the limits of speed and control on one of the season’s most technically demanding stages.

Hankook Tire continues to elevate the global profile of the WRC through the amplified presence of its unified global brand, “Hankook.” The WRC garnered significant attention at Safari Rally Kenya in March, where more than 250,000 motorsport fans gathered on-site — a 33% increase from the previous year — highlighting the growing worldwide enthusiasm for the championship and Hankook’s rising influence in the global motorsports arena.

Hankook Tire will serve as the exclusive tire supplier for all WRC classes over a three-year period starting this year, underscoring its leadership in tire technology on the global stage. Since 2023, the company has worked in close collaboration with the FIA and leading manufacturers, conducting over 2,000 kilometers of real-world testing across eight countries. Through the development of FIA-certified high-performance rally tires engineered to deliver peak performance under extreme conditions, Hankook Tire continues to solidify its position as a premium brand in the global motorsports arena.