Ford’s Colin McRae was the pre-tournament favourite to win the rally, having won the first two events in 1997 and 1998.

[3] The winner was Didier Auriol on the 19th win and 47th podium, driving a Toyota Corolla WRC.

[2] He and his French crew were dominamt in the third and final leg, and set fastest times in five of the six stages, claiming the win with almost a minute gap over Subaru's Richard Burns.

The third position was also claimed by a Toyota team, consisting of Carlos Sainz and Luis Moya.

[5] Then, it marked the first time the team has scored a top ten overall position and finally Hyundai won the 2-litre manufacturers class of the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship and the drivers' championship.