Toyota has successfully defended its title in the recently concluded Asia Cross Country Rally 2024. Its rival, Mitsubishi, wasn’t able to get any of the podium positions, either. This year’s top three consisted of Toyota Gazoo Racing Thailand with their Hilux, along with Team Isuzu Suphan taking second and third.
So, where did Team Ralliart end up? The highest finishing Mitsubishi wound up in fifth place. But the thing is, there’s more to that story than the team’s final ranking. It’s one that showed true sportsmanship in the face of adversity.
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Mitsubishi started on the back foot in the first couple of rounds of the rally. But by the halfway point, the #103 Mitsubishi Triton, driven by Thai rally ace Chayapon Yotha and co-driver Peerapong Sombutwong, took the lead from Toyota and never looked back. It was a heroic drive from Yotha and Sombutwong, lengthening the gap between them and Toyota Gazoo Racing Thailand.
But in racing, to finish first, one must first finish. Mitsubishi had a strong lead entering the final day of the rally, but fate had other plans. Just two kilometers away from finishing the second to the last stage of the final day, the #103’s engine spluttered to a halt. It handed the lead to Toyota, and Team Ralliart’s hopes for victory wrecked dashed.
The story could’ve ended there, but in the true spirit of competition, something amazing happened. The second Triton, #137 piloted by Kazuto Koide, stopped to help his team mate. Koide could’ve easily taken the position of lead Mitsubishi driver, but the Japanese driver chose humanity over glory. He towed his team mate to the finish for repairs to be able to start the final leg.
Both Koide and Yotha finished well outside the top ten. It was Katsuhiko Taguchi and co-driver Takahiro Yasui who became the lead Triton to finish fifth overall. Sure, it’s not the result Mitsubishi hoped for, but we’re sure that it’ll make them hungrier than ever to reclaim the AXCR crown next year.
Team Ralliart might have lost the trophy, but with a backstory like that, they won the hearts of racing fans.
