Rally Trophy received "favorable" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[1] The Finnish gaming magazine Pelit summarized that "Rally Trophy sets the standard for all future driving games. The graphics are absolutely stunning and the lack of inspiring game modes is compensated by the sheer thrill of driving cars that behave uniquely and realistically. A must-have for all rally fans".[12]
IGN summarized that "Rally Trophy is a superb game that offers an unusual alternative to the more technology packed offerings like McRae and Pro Rally".[8] Several critics compared the game to Grand Prix Legends including Pelit, IGN and GameSpot.[12][8][5]
GameSpot presented Rally Trophy with its annual "Best Driving Game on PC" award.[13] The game was a nominee for PC Gamer US's "2002 Best Racing Game" award, which ultimately went to NASCAR Racing 2002 Season.[14]
^Moore, Scott (December 24, 2001). "Rally Trophy". SportPlanet. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on January 11, 2003. Retrieved April 14, 2020.