Since the release, the publisher SCi purchased Eidos Interactive in an all-share offer, winning a bidding war from then-former EA man John Riccitiello and Eidos management, but they, in turn, would be purchased by Japanese publisher Square Enix in 2009.

They had one or two people scouting each real life location - Gateshead forest, Nevada, Canberra, Hokkaido, the French Alps, and the Arctic Circle, sometimes going to actual real life rallies, with tools for activities such as texture photography.

[13] Rally driver Possum Bourne and his mechanics were also involved, notably by giving feedback about the Austalian stages.

[15] Lead physics developer Eero Piitulainen said the following in 2023:[16] For me, the commercial part was largely unimportant.

[20] In the years since its release, the game has become highly regarded among the sim-racing community, as its handling and physics models are still some of the most realistic available on the market.

A dedicated modding community has also grown around the game, allowing improvements to visuals, sound, and access to community-run online tournaments.