Jan Kopecký will take a lead of 5.7s into the final day of Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés after the last stage of day one was cancelled on safety grounds.
Cars belonging to spectators had been parked too close to the road and despite the efforts of the organisers and local police they could not be moved.
The 23.07-kilometre Tejeda stage was due to run at 22:49hrs but will no longer take place. Crews are now heading back to overnight service in Las Palmas via an alternative route.
Huge crowds have followed Friday’s action and have witnessed a thrilling battle for victory with four drivers firmly in contention for top spot on the final day of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge event, which begins with the 23.42-kilometre San Mateo stage. The first car is due to tackle the run at 08:35hrs local time.
Overall positions after SS8
| Pos. | Driver | Car | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kopecký Jan / Starý Petr | Škoda Fabia S2000 | 55m56.3s |
| 2 | Neuville Thierry / Gilsoul Nicolas | Peugeot 207 S2000 | +5.7s |
| 3 | Hänninen Juho / Markkula Mikko | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +8.6s |
| 4 | Loix Freddy / Miclotte Frédéric | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +9.0s |
| 5 | Mikkelsen Andreas / Floene Ola | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +37.6s |
| 6 | Bouffier Bryan / Panseri Xavier | Peugeot 207 S2000 | +38.6s |
| 7 | Wilks Guy / Pugh Phil | Peugeot 207 S2000 | +40.7s |
| 8 | Magalhaes Bruno / Grave Paulo | Peugeot 207 S2000 | +1m03.8s |
| 9 | Basso Giandomenico / Dotta Mitia | Proton Satria Neo S2000 | +1m31.7s |
| 10 | Gardemeister Toni / Suominen Tapio | Škoda Fabia S2000 | +1m40.3s |
| 11 | Perez Jonathan / Velasco Enrique | Peugeot 207 S2000 | +2m51.5s |
| 12 | Vinyes Joan / Mercader Jordi | Suzuki Swift S1600 | +3m19.1s |
| 13 | Antxustegi Gorka / Suárez Gabriel | Suzuki Swift S1600 | +4m11.9s |
| 14 | Settembrini Massimiliano / Bonato Corrado | Peugeot 207 S2000 | +4m12.6s |
| 15 | Marrero Angel / Marrero Victor | Honda Civic Type R | +4m16.7s |