Six legs and 2,100 kilometers later, Toyota Gazoo Racing Thailand and the Hilux GR Sport snatched victory at the 2024 Asian Cross Country Rally (AXCR). This is the first victory at the Asian Cross Country Rally for Toyota Gazoo Racing Thailand in seven tries.
The #105 Hilux GR Sport, driven by Mana Pornsiricherd and Kittisak Klinchan (Thailand) crossed the finish line ahead of the #112 Isuzu D-Max piloted by Suwat Limjirapinya and Prakob Chaothale (Thailand), and the #106 Isuzu D-Max driven by Thongchai Klinkate and Banpoth Ampornmaha (Thailand).
Although the Hilux GR Sport took the lead on the first day, a course error on the second day caused them to fall back significantly. Despite this setback, the Toyota Gazoo Racing works team set blistering times on the third and fourth day—third fastest and fastest, respectively.
Favored to win this year’s AXCR, the leading Team Mitsubishi Ralliart Triton (#103 piloted by Chayapon Yotha and Peerapong Sombutong of Thailand) suffered an engine failure and stopped two kilometers before the finish line.
Chayapon had been previously leading the race with a by a huge margin of 19 minutes over second place and he seemed to have his second victory almost in his grasp. In the end, Chayapon was unable to finish the race on his own, and although the Mitsubishi Triton of #137 Kazuto Koide, who was running in a support role, towed him to the goal of Leg 5, he was given a three-hour penalty, which dropped him far back in the race and out of contention to win the event.
By the final day, Toyota Gazoo Racing Thailand and the Hilux GR Sport did a flawless run to seal their first-ever AXCR overall victory with a total time of 14 hours 22 seconds.
Relying on the D-Max’s smaller, nimbler frame (versus the Hilux and Triton), the Isuzu Suphan Explorer Liqui Moly Rally Team finished second and third with a time of 14 hours 25 minutes 47 seconds, and 14 hours 38 minutes and 24 seconds, respectively. Toyota Gazoo Racing (Indonesia) finished in fourth, while the leading Team Mitsubishi Ralliart Triton finished fifth.
Disappointing for heavily favored Mitsubishi :( Toyota and Isuzu convincingly proved the durability of their respective vehicles (while looking with glee at Mitsubishi and its Triton baby)...
ReplyDeleteToyota and Isuzu are OLDER
DeleteTriton is just newer
Honestly, why there's no Ford in the Asian Cross Country Rally just as there's no Peugeot, no Mercedes, no BMW, no Mini, no Audi, no Jeep, no Jaguar, no Land Rover, no Renault, and no Volvo in the said event? Especially with half of these brands already have better and modern vehicles then...
ReplyDeleteWhat happened also to GR Indonesia with the Fortuner? It was winning from Leg 1-3. I really thought the real battle was between Mitsubishi Ralliart Triton #103 and GR Indonesia Fortuner #115.
ReplyDeleteToyota is financially able to support such racing endeavors. Others may be able to support it, but not a priority since the reserves are thin
ReplyDeleteToo bad Toyota is a huge failure in F1
DeleteThey've spent 4 Billion Dollars and never ever won a race
F1 failure but won multiple times Le Mans recently. Lmp1 cars more applicable to road cars
ReplyDelete