[3] The 2021 event was based in Ypres in West Flanders and was contested over twenty-four special stages totalling 295.78 km (183.79 mi) in competitive distance.

[7] Reigning World Champions Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia entered the round with a thirty-seven-point lead over Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin.

In the World Rally Championship-3 standings, Yohan Rossel led Kajetan Kajetanowicz by sixteen points in the drivers' championship, with Nicolas Ciamin in third.

In the co-drivers' championship Maciek Szczepaniak held a twelve-point lead over Alexandre Coria, with Yannick Roche in third.

In the junior championship, Sami Pajari and Marko Salminen led Mārtiņš Sesks and Renars Francis by four points.