| Calendar |
| New event | Rally Jordan debuts as a new event and Turkey makes a comeback while new events for 2007 (Norway, Portugal and Ireland) are all dropped, making up a calendar of 15 events (one less than in previous year). |
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| Sporting |
| Start order | The reversed top-15 system for determining the running order is abandoned and is switched back to old system based on event classification (or championship classification for first leg). |
| Final service | Itinerary of the events shall include a ten minute final service between the final stage and the podium finish. This is meant to encourage Service Park to remain as an spectator attraction until the very finish. |
| Super-rally restricted | Crews are no longer allowed to re-join the rally if they retire on final day. |
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| Technical |
| Control tyre introduced | Control tyre is introduced to all 4WD rally cars (previously used only in JWRC) and tender for seasons 2008-2010 was won by Pirelli. |
| Mousse banned | At the same time with introduction of the control tyre, filling tyres with anything other than air is forbidden. |
| Cutting of the tyres | Cutting the tyres, a practice to help coping with varying conditions, is limited only to tarmac rallies and only along pre-set guidelines of cutting the patterns. |
| Technical restictions eased | The restriction on parts will be eased for new manufacturers in their first year of entering the Championship. A new manufacturer may ask the FIA for a waiver to use two additional engines without penalty, and a change of parts, as described in the Sporting Regulations. |
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| Terminology |
| Leg becomes Day | In FIA's own words, "To aid public understanding, the term Leg will be replaced by Day". |
