[1] The rally was the first round in which 2017-specification World Rally Cars compete,[2] and will see the return of Toyota and Citroën to the championship, with the Toyota Yaris WRC and Citroën C3 WRC respectively.

[3][4] Hayden Paddon withdrew from the rally after a fatal accident involving a spectator on the opening stage.

Paddon lost control after hitting a patch of black ice, which spun him into an embankment and rolled the car.

The stage was stopped while medical attention was sought and the car retrieved, but the spectator could not be revived.

Although Paddon was eligible to re-enter the rally under Rally-2 regulations, the team chose to withdraw his car from the event.