The event was marred by an accident in the JWRC category which resulted in the death of the co-driver Jörg Bastuck.

[1] Eventually the rally saw the second win of the season for the reigning world champion Sébastien Loeb, although the early pacesetter was Ford's Marcus Grönholm.

Ahead of Grönholm was the first podium for Spain's Dani Sordo with a fast run that was publicly acknowledged by Loeb.

[3] Further down the field, the twice previous Rally Catalunya winner Gilles Panizzi disappointed with a tenth-place finish.

Panizzi promptly left the Red Bull Škoda Team[4] and has not competed in a WRC round since.