As returning champion, Juoni was anxious to receive the King's Cup Trophy for a second time, and he set some blistering times on the fast flowing stages of Leg 1, but the local knowledge of a couple of Thai competitors left Juoni in third place at the end of the first day. Leg 2 was much twistier and technical, perhaps more suited to the Impreza, and Juoni was able to win each stage by more than 20 seconds, and to open a healthy gap as those chasing him fell by the wayside.

Although a second Impreza was shipped for returning customers Brian Green and Fleur Pedersen from NZ, their plans were ruined when Thai Customs detained the car due to a documentation irregularity caused by the car's previous owner. Their replacement car, a locally-rented Evo6, unfortunately overheated on SS1, and they eventually retired on SS2.

Malaysia's James Russell & Jagdev Singh competed in a two wheel drive Group A Honda Integra rented from Thailand's Team Result, and surprised many by running as high as fourth overall towards the end of Leg 1. Unfortunately though, on the final stage of the day, while negotiating one of the many fast flowing bends, the engine inexplicably cut out. The resulting loss of power saw James lose control, and the car flipped onto its roof. Damage was relatively minor and the crew would have continued if the engine had restarted. The cause is still being investigated.