Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (hereafter, Mitsubishi Motors) has announced that Team Mitsubishi Ralliart, which receives technical support from the company, will enter three Triton pickup trucks in the upcoming Asia Cross Country Rally (AXCR) 2025, taking place in Thailand* from August 8 to 16.
In recent years, the AXCR has run for six days over approximately 2,000 kilometers (km). Now, marking its 30th edition, the rally expands to an eight-day competition spanning roughly 2,500 km - making it an even more demanding event. Team Mitsubishi Ralliart aims to reclaim the overall title for the first time in three years by fine-tuning the Triton, with enhanced engine durability and chassis refinements.
Team Mitsubishi Ralliart is owned by Tant Sport (Thailand) and helmed by Hiroshi Masuoka, a team director from Mitsubishi Motors. Mitsubishi Motors engineers will develop the rally cars and accompany the team to provide technical support during the competition.
The driver and co-driver lineup will continue to feature Chayapon Yotha (Thailand) and Peerapong Sombutwong (Thailand), who took the overall victory in AXCR 2022, along with two Japanese duos - Katsuhiko Taguchi and Takahiro Yasui who placed fifth in AXCR 2024, and Kazuto Koide and Eiji Chiba who made their debut with a strong finish last year.
Chayapon Yotha and Katsuhiko Taguchi will compete for the overall win in vehicles upgraded from last year’s specifications. A Mitsubishi Motors’ employee and test driver, Kazuo Koide, will compete in a vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission optimized for competition. In addition to validating high-performance technologies for future production models, he will play a key role in supporting other team members.
In early June, Team Mitsubishi Ralliart conducted high-load endurance tests simulating actual rally conditions on off-road courses around Khao Yai National Park in central Thailand. The suspension and other chassis components have been fine-tuned while verifying the engine and body’s reliability and durability, all in preparation for the main event.
“This marks our third rally with the new Triton,” said Hiroshi Masuoka, team director of Team Mitsubishi Ralliart. "It has demonstrated its great potential in a wide range of situations, including acceleration performance on high-speed courses, handling on technical courses, and off-road performance on extremely rough terrain such as mud and river crossings. This time, in addition to increasing engine torque and improving durability, we have refined the chassis and other components to create a car capable of winning it all.
Our team has grown in experience and unity, and we are in the best shape yet to reclaim the overall title after three years. So, please stay tuned - we expect great outcomes.”
AXCR is the largest cross-country rally in the ASEAN region. This year marks the 30th edition of the rally and will kick off with a ceremonial start on August 8 in Pattaya - one of Thailand’s major tourist destinations located on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand. The route winds throughout Thailand, with the finish line set once again in Pattaya on the 16th. The driving distance has been extended by roughly 500 km from last year to a total of approximately 2,500 km, on a course loaded with changes of terrain including mountainous zones, dense forest areas, and river crossings. With the rally also extended to eight days, the challenge will demand not only improved road handling, but also greater durability.
Official AXCR2025 website:
https://asiacrosscountryrally.com/index_ja.html
Source: Mitsubishi Motors
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