Run in mid-July in southern Poland, this marked to only year in which Poland (or any member of the Warsaw Pact) was part of the WRC calendar until 36 years later in 2009.

This edition was also notable for the fact that of the 62 teams which began the rally, only three completed it, a record that stands today.

In 1973, and for several years afterward, only manufacturers were given points for finishes in WRC events.

As no other major competitors were able to complete the rally, the win was by a substantial margin, the German driver outpacing the next finisher by nearly three hours.

Source: Independent WRC archive[1]