Mitsubishi Triton Triumphs in the Tough Terrain of AXCR 2025
As night fell on Pattaya, Thailand, car number 112, driven by Chayapon Yotha, crossed the finish line, marking a remarkable victory for the Mitsubishi Triton in the Asia Cross Country Rally (AXCR) 2025. This is the second time that Mitsubishi Ralliart and the Triton have clinched the top spot, the first being in 2022.
Mitsubishi Ralliart team celebrates their victory at the Asia Cross Country Rally (AXCR) 2025, continuing their success from 2022. Image: Mitsubishi
With a total distance of 2,316.32 km, including 1,002.95 km of special stages, Yotha completed the rally with a total time of 16 hours, 15 minutes, and 12 seconds. His teammates, Katsuhiko Taguchi and Kazuto Koide from Japan, finished in 5th and 22nd place, respectively.
In addition to Yotha’s individual victory, Mitsubishi Ralliart also claimed the Team Award – an award given to the team with at least three finishers, based on the cumulative time of the two fastest cars. This is the second time they have won this award and the first time in two years.
Nail-Biting Finale
This year’s rally was particularly grueling, with rocky, muddy, and slippery sections. However, Yotha attributed his success to the durability and handling of the Mitsubishi Triton, which allowed him to maintain control and deliver peak performance. He also vowed to return next year to defend his championship title.
Mitsubishi’s new Triton pickup truck proved its mettle in the grueling rally. Image: Mitsubishi
In fact, going into the final stage, Mitsubishi Ralliart held a comfortable lead of over 10 minutes. However, Yotha’s car encountered a technical issue. After resolving the problem, he still managed to complete the race and secure the overall victory.
The opening ceremony of the rally was held at the famous tourist spot in Pattaya. The first stage took the drivers on a 360km journey northeast from Pattaya to Prachin Buri, featuring the longest Special Stage of the rally at 199.13km.
The real challenge began in the second stage as the drivers navigated approximately 500km north from Prachin Buri to Khao Yai, encountering various terrains ranging from gravel to high-speed farm roads.
The third stage remained in the Khao Yai area, and unexpected afternoon rains turned the already challenging course into a muddy affair.
This year’s rally presented numerous challenges for the drivers. Image: Mitsubishi
The fifth stage continued as planned, heading back to Prachin Buri, where the roads were heavily damaged with deep puddles and fallen trees, causing even the top teams to get stuck.
The seventh stage brought the rally back to Pattaya, retracing part of the previous route through narrow trails and river crossings, before the final day, stage eight, concluded at Bali Hai Pier in Pattaya.
The sixth-generation Mitsubishi Triton is the latest pickup truck from Mitsubishi Motors, featuring a new 2.4L MIVEC Bi-Turbo diesel engine, an upgraded chassis and suspension, 7 drive modes, and the Super Select 4WD-II system. Image: Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi Ralliart team director, Hiroshi Masuoka, attributed their success to the core strengths of the Mitsubishi Triton – stability on high-speed roads and agility on winding routes – giving them a competitive edge over rivals with larger-displacement engines.
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