Mitsubishi Ralliart to take on AXCR 2025 with three Triton rally cars

The 2025 Asia Cross Country Rally is fast approaching, and Team Mitsubishi Ralliart is ready to take the overall title for the first time in three years.

Mitsubishi Motors has announced that Team Mitsubishi Ralliart will enter three Triton pickup trucks for the 2025 edition of the Asia Cross Country Rally, with 2022 winner Chayapon Yotha and Peerapong Sombutwong of Thailand being the lead drivers 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.

Yotha and 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.

As with their previous entries in AXCR, 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.

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.”

Marking its 30th edition, AXCR 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.