[7] The margin between second-place Sébastien Ogier was 2.9 seconds, which also made the rally become the tenth closest wins in history.

[9] The Czech crew of Jan Kopecký and Pavel Dresler finished second in WRC-2, which made them the drivers' and co-drivers' champions of 2018 World Rally Championship-2 respectively.

The rally marked Volkswagen's return to the World Championship with a factory-supported team after the company withdrew from the category in 2016.

[14] Local hero Dani Sordo led Hyundai in second, followed by Elfyn Evans in third in a Ford Fiesta WRC.

Nine-time world champion Sébastien Loeb stalled his C3 at the opening stage in Barcelona, but he managed to recover to fourth place overall, just half a second off the podium.

Sixth-place Andreas Mikkelsen was unable to find his form in the morning loop, but a setting adjustment put him on a charge and allowed him to end the day ahead of defending world champion Sébastien Ogier, who was fastest in Shakedown and the 2.97-kilometer-long street stage on Thursday.

[15] Craig Breen was in fifth before the final stage despite a spin, but the Irishman lost a chunk of his C3's rear wing and dropped to eighth overall.

He eventually finished the day nearly one minute off the lead in ninth overall ahead of Esapekka Lappi, who slid off the road in the morning and spun later on.

Toyota duo Ott Tänak and Jari-Matti Latvala chose full wet tyres for the morning loop and set brilliant pace.

Although he made the same choice as Neuville, he encountered muddy roads due to being lower in the running order, which dropped him down to sixth.

[18] After the chaotic leg 2, Latvala led the rally, just 4.7 seconds ahead of defending world champion Sébastien Ogier, who took his chance with wet weather tyres in the afternoon and gained three places.

[19] Defending world champion Sébastien Ogier found something extra in his Ford Fiesta WRC and completed the rally in second with four additional Power Stage points.

Teammate Elfyn Evans also found his form in the rally and successfully held the Hyundai drivers Thierry Neuville — who suffered an unexpected puncture caused by a stone at the last few kilometers of the event — and Dani Sordo behind to snatch his second podium finish of the year.