Over a month ago, Mitsubishi announced that it will take on this year’s Asia Cross Country Rally or AXCR with the Ralliart Triton pickup truck. Now, the Japanese carmaker finally wins the grueling competition, solidifying the Triton as its new rally king.
This year marks the AXCR’s 30th staging. For this season, participants were challenged by over 2,500 km of some of the toughest terrains in rallying. These included tarmac, mud, sand, loose dirt, rocky terrain, mountain passes, among others, that spanned Thailand’s eastern coast in Pattaya, Prachinburi, Khao Yai, and back to Pattaya.
Mitsubishi fielded three units of the Triton AXCR challenger, each ready to race with a 2.5-liter turbo diesel engine and a rally spec 4WD system. In addition, the brand enlisted a team of drivers and co-drivers these include Katsuhiko Taguchi with co-driver Takahiro Yasui, Kazuto Koide with co-driver Eiji Chiba, and Chayaphon Yotha with co-driver Peerapong Sombutwong.
It all began with a ceremonial flag-off held in Pattaya. The first couple of days saw team Mitsubishi struggling to get their groove on. But they soon found their footing, snatching the lead early on in the week, all the way to the final day. In the end, it was Chayaphon Yotha and Peerapong Sombutwong who took home the gold for Mitsubishi.
The team of Katsuhiko Taguchi and Takahiro Yasui claimed 5th place, while Kazuto Koide and Eiji Chiba managed to slot in 22nd place. AN overall commendable showing from the Japanese drivers and co-pilots.
But it wasn’t an easy win. The leading Triton had to contend with a tough opponent in a Toyota Hilux fielded by Toyota Gazoo Racing team. Also, the stages were even tougher this year. Among the challenges they had to go through were unpredictable weather patterns, deteriorating course conditions, mechanical setbacks, safety concerns that resulted in the cancellations of events in days 4 and 6, among others.
The final result recorded Mitsubishi taking the top spot, followed by Toyota in 2nd place. Ford, meanwhile, rounded off the top 3.
“I am truly happy to have claimed overall victory once again, thanks to the entire team playing their part perfectly and delivering a flawless vehicle. This year’s rally was extremely demanding, with rocky sections, mud, and slippery terrain. Yet, the Triton’s durability and exceptional handling allowed me to stay in control through high-speed corners and technical muddy stretches, delivering top-tier performance. I will be back next year to defend the championship.” shared Chayaphon Yotha
This well-earned title ended Mitsubishi’s two-year victory drought in AXCR. In 2023, it entered the competition with the Strada, an alternative name for the Triton in some regions. It didn’t make it. Then in 2024, Mitsubishi tried anew and almost had it, but fell short near the end due to a mechanical problem. This year, it was a case of the old saying, “third time’s a charm” for Mitsubishi.
