The event saw the first win of the season for Sébastien Loeb.

After a spirited battle with Petter Solberg over the first two days - that saw both drivers suffering problems(Loeb losing power steering on stage 13 and Solberg's Subaru colliding with a dog)[1] - Loeb eventually pulled clear to give the Belgian Kronos team their first WRC victory.

Marcus Grönholm had a less successful event, suffering a crash on day one[2] and having to rejoin the rally on day two under Superally rules.

Despite a twenty-minute penalty, he managed to pick up a point for eighth place.

Manfred Stohl collected the final podium place with his Peugeot 307.