| Calendar |
| China replaces Indonesia | Indonesia, which was cancelled in 1998, is replaced by China. |
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| Sporting |
| Manufacturer points | Only nominated cars of registered manufacturers score points. Non-scoring cars (of unregistered manufacturers, non-nominated manufacturer cars or privateers) no longer block points, rather points are distributed between nominated cars of registered manufacturers as if they were only finishers. Scoring in drivers' championship is not changed. |
| TV stage | For TV stage special rules applied. Manufacturer entered crews that had retired prior the TV stage were able to rejoin the rally for that one stage. Three fastest on that single stage scored 3-2-1 points respectively. TV stage was to be the final stage of the rally and it was run in Corsica and Finland before idea was scrapped. |
| Start order | In Rally Australia, new running order system is tried out. Instead of running in championship or end-of-leg order, drivers instead pick their road position for the next leg. Order in which choice is made is championship or end-of-leg order. |
