Ford's Mikko Hirvonen, who was in second place only six seconds behind Loeb after stage 14, retired from the rally due to an engine problem. This gave Loeb a 20-point lead in the drivers' championship.[1]
Hirvonen's teammate Jari-Matti Latvala, under pressure to get a good result after his recent crashes, dropped out of contention for the win after a puncture on Friday. His Focus WRC later experienced an electrical problem, costing him over eight minutes, but he managed to continue and finish sixth.