The rally was preceded by the "Fafe Rally Sprint", a single-stage exhibition event run over the famous Fafe stages in the country's north which was won by Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT driver Dani Sordo.

[1] Dani Sordo won the rally's qualifying stage (5 km) and elected to run thirteenth (last WRC) on the road as a result.

His strategy was followed by all competitors, resulting in an inverted starting order for the rally's first day.

Thirteen World Rally Cars were entered into the event, as were twenty entries in the newly formed WRC-2 championship for cars built to Group N and Super 2000 regulations and nine WRC-3 entries.

Notes: 1 2 3 – Indicate position on Power Stage Points are awarded to the top 10 classified finishers, and one point for winning a stage.