For the last two years, it’s been Toyota that’s been at the top of the Asia Cross Country Rally podium. So far, the Hilux has been tough to beat, and it’s gunning for a third win in a row this year. But let’s not forget that it was Mitsubishi who won it in 2022 following the return of the grueling rally, in its first try, nonetheless.
With that, Mitsubishi is determined to get the title back from Toyota. Of course, the company will wade into battle with the new-generation Triton. The redesigned model has something to prove, too, as it has yet to take the overall win.
As always, there will be three Tritons that will run the rally. The driver and co-driver teams will include Chayaphon Yotha and Peerapong Sombutwong, who won the 2022 race, Katsuhiko Taguchi and Takahiro Yasui, with the final paring being Kazuto Koide and Eiji Chiba. Like in all the past rallies, the team will be led by Dakar legend, Hiroshi Masuoka.
OTHER STORIES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED:
The next-gen Toyota Hilux might get a plug-in hybrid version
LTO warns public about impounding unregistered vehicles as cases reached 20,307 in June
“This marks our third rally with the new Triton. 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,” said Masuoka.
The Triton T1 rally truck receives a host of updates in its bid to reclaim the AXCR crown from the Hilux. The familiar 2.4-liter twin-turbo MIVEC diesel gets more grunt under the hood, along with additional components to make it more robust. It also gets a beefier suspension arrangement to cope with the demands of rough, high-speed driving, plus a shorter bed that’s likely to improve weight distribution.
Of course, Toyota won’t take Mitsubishi’s challenge sitting down, but it has yet to show off its entry for the 2025 AXCR.
Excited? Well, this year’s running of the AXCR will flag off on August 8 in Pattaya, Thailand. From there, competitors will drive around 2,500km over various terrain such as mountainous passes, dense forest areas, and river crossings.
