Forty-five entries and counting for Canarias

Interest in Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés continues to grow after organisers revealed that 45 crews have registered for the Intercontinental Rally Challenge round.

And with entries for the island event not closing until 1 April, there is a strong possibility that even more competitors will sign-up for the Gran Canaria-based rally.

One of the latest names to enter is Spaniard Ruben Gracia who will be a contender for IRC Production Cup honours in his Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X after finishing seventh overall on the event last season.

Gracia (pictured) will be looking to make up for his disappointing exit on Rallye Monte-Carlo in January when he was challenging for a place in the top 30 only to go off the road and retire on the eighth stage of the event.

Rally Islas Canarias takes place from 14-16 April and counts as the second round of the 12-event IRC series. The event made its first appearance on the IRC schedule in 2010 and was won by Czech crew Jan Kopecký and Petr Starý in a Škoda Motorsport Fabia Super 2000.