When Alexey Lukyanuk landed for the first time in Gran Canaria, back in 2016, few knew his career. Today, eight years later, the Russian driver has earned the affection of the fans thanks to his four victories in the Rally Islas Canarias and one of the continental titles that he achieved on the island.

Four victories, those of 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2021 that equal him to Jesús Puras (1997, 1999, 2000 and 2002) and that leave him one step away from the historic record of Carlos Sainz. On October 29, 1989, the Madrid driver sealed his fifth victory in Gran Canaria in just five visits. First he did it in 1985 with a Renault 5 Turbo, then the following year at the wheel of a Renault Maxi 5 Turbo, he repeated it in 1987 and 1988 driving a Ford Sierra Cosworth, to close the cycle with the Toyota Celica GT-Four.

No less than 12,971 days later, the new Hyundai Canarias driver once again has the possibility of equaling the record that Carlos Sainz achieved in the second part of the 1980s.

The truth is that the two-time European champion's numbers are impressive. In 2016 he won four stages, the following year ten, a figure he copied in 2018. In 2019, despite completing only the first leg when he abandoned in the early stages of the second, he won four, to add another three in 2020 and a whopping sixteen on his last visit. With that scratch number he is fifth in the event ranking.

Is anyone betting on an unprecedented winner?
Taking a quick look at the entry list, the chances that the Rally Islas Canarias will include a new winner on its list of champions are very high. In addition to Alexey Lukyanuk, Yoann Bonato and Luis Monzón are the ones who close the circle of drivers who have won the Gran Canaria event.

The Frenchman did it last year with a Citroën C3 Rally2 modeled on the one he will use in 2024. The truth is that the Frenchman, several times champion in his country, has found himself like a fish in water in these stages. Except for a single abandonment in this event, he has counted his participations by podiums or the most recent victory in 2023.

Meanwhile, Luis Monzón was crowned here in 1994 and 2008. On a much more recent date, in 2022, he was close to ringing the bell when he was on the verge of adding a victory that was only separated by an inopportune puncture.

Experience, a degree
But be careful, because the group of drivers who attend this year's Rally Islas Canarias has gained experience in these stages. This is the case of Hayden Paddon, who for the second consecutive year will wear number one.

The current continental champion already knows how the island's stages are used, so no one should be surprised that his Hyundai i20 N Rally2 is fighting for victory. A similar situation is experienced by the former European champion, Efrén Llarena, a regular on the podium in Gran Canaria who will try to register his name as the winner.

Mathieu Franceschi, Miklós Csomós, Erik Cais, Miko Marczyk, Mads Östberg and Simon Wagner, many of them winners of stages at European level and in the Rally Islas Canarias itself, await their turn to be noticed in an event that is already discounting their days for its celebration.

As a technical novelty, many expect to see the new Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 in action, a vehicle that debuted this year. Filip Mares, Martins Sesks and Alejando Cachón will be at the helm. Precisely, the Spanish driver will be one of the nationals who challenges the FIA ​​ERC regulars.

At this crossroads he will be accompanied by José Antonio Suárez, as leader of an exciting Spanish Supercampeonato, Diego Ruiloba, who for the first time will arrive in Gran Canaria knowing what it means to win a national rally, as well as Iván Ares and Oscar Palomo, among others.

As for the regional squad, in addition to Luis Monzón, it is Yeray Lemes and Miguel Suárez, on two Citroën C3 Rally2s, who will aspire to get into the battle for victory against the international elite. Leader and current champion, respectively, will begin the test after two completely opposite starts in the CCRA. Many eyes will also be directed at Raúl Hernández. The Lanzarote native is momentarily parking his WRC program to debut with a Rally2, specifically a Skoda Fabia RS with which he will try to raise his hand.

In this way, a range of favorites is summarized which, as can be seen in the official entry list, may be even broader. How many of the details reported here can go down in the history of the event next Saturday, May 4? Only the 13 special stages proposed by Todo Sport, the entity that organizes the 48 Rally Islas Canarias, will pass judgment.