Mitsubishi Ralliart gets back-to-back AXCR overall championship

MANILA: Team Mitsubishi Ralliart is the overall victor in the recently concluded Asia Cross Country Rally (AXCR) 2026, using three race-prepared Tritons.

The team's win this year, in the competition's 31st season, also marked another milestone as it was the first overall AXCR victory by a Japanese driver and co-driver pairing. 

Katsuhiko Taguchi and Takahiro Yasui took the top spot by covering a total distance of 2,145.19 kilometers in 12 hours, 58 minutes, and 20 seconds.

The Kazuto Koide-Eiji Chiba pairing finished in 27th place, while Chayapon Yotha and Peerapon Sombatwong ended this year's rally in the 36th.

Here are the standings:

Standing	Driver and co-driver pairing	Time (in hours, minutes, and seconds)
First	Katsuhiko Taguchi, Takahiro Yasui	12 h 58 m 20 s
27th	Kazuto Koide, Eiji Chiba	20 h 58 m 30 s
36th	Chayapon Yotha, Peerapon Sombatwong	34 h 48 m 43 s

Team Mitsubishi Ralliart highlights

Taguchi started strong in the first leg of the competition, finishing in third place overall. He then set the fastest special-stage time in Leg 3, allowing him to take the overall lead by just eight seconds over the second-place driver.

Taguchi and Yasui steadily extended their lead, and by the end of Leg 5—the longest stage of the rally—they had built a lead of more than five minutes. 

On the final day, they claimed their first AXCR overall victory by two minutes and 25 seconds.

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Meanwhile, Koide—competing in his third AXCR—had a rough start when he got stuck in a roadside ditch during Leg 1, resulting in a time-out penalty. He also recorded the eighth-fastest stage time in SS5 and completed all the special stages.

Defending champion Chayapon Yotha suffered a tire puncture in the rock section of Leg 2, losing time while changing the tire. He was able to climb back to sixth overall in Leg 3, but he struck the right-rear section of the car, forcing another tire change.

Aside from that, he also experienced engine trouble that developed during the first half of Leg 5. Despite the difficulties, Yotha reached the finish line. 

"I am extremely proud that a Japanese driver and co-driver pair has won this rally for the first time in the event's history. As a fellow Japanese, I could not be more proud of this achievement. This year's rally was a closely fought battle from the very beginning, and it was impossible to predict who would come out on top. I believe this victory was achieved because every member of the team fully committed to teamwork. Mitsubishi Motors has long used the experience gained in motorsports under extreme conditions to support the development of production vehicles," Mitsubishi Ralliart Team Director Hiroshi Masuoka was quoted as saying.

"The benefits go beyond driving performance and contribute to the confidence and safety that characterize Mitsubishi Motors vehicles. The same applies to the development of our engineers, whose experiences in this environment will undoubtedly contribute to their everyday work. I'd like to thank everyone for supporting us," he added. 

For his part, Taguchi said that taking the lead on the third day came as a surprise.

"It may have looked as though everything was going smoothly from the outside, but Yasui and I were driving at the limit throughout the rally. Once we moved into the lead, our rivals were forced to take greater risks in their pursuit, which worked in our favor. The AXCR offers a unique combination of difficulty and excitement because drivers must constantly make split-second decisions on unpaved roads. Thanks to the significant improvements made to the Triton's handling performance before the event, I was able to follow my intended line and avoid punctures. I am delighted to have won, although I still regret being overtaken during the final SS. Next time, I want to make sure we are the fastest on the road all the way to the finish."

Koide admitted that he was close to losing heart after the time-out penalty on the first day, but his top-10 result in SS5 helped restore his confidence.

"This year's Triton was easier to control on stop-and-go sections thanks to improvements in low-rpm torque and shift control, while also demonstrating excellent performance on high-speed stages. The lessons learned from this demanding rally, including decision-making and risk management at the limit, will prove invaluable in my work as an instructor and in training future test drivers. Providing safe, reassuring, and comfortable mobility for everyone, wherever their journey takes them—this is the essence of Mitsubishi Motors. Experiences like this, gained in some of the toughest conditions imaginable, contribute to building reliable vehicles that meet our customers' needs."

Lastly, Yotha described this year's rally as "exceptionally demanding."

"The combination of mud, ultra-high-speed sections, and jungles with limited visibility created conditions where there was no room for even the slightest mistake. I am disappointed that I was unable to maintain the pace I wanted because of mechanical issues. At the same time, I am proud that my teammate Taguchi successfully defended the championship for Team Mitsubishi Ralliart. The evolved Triton is an outstanding vehicle. Its excellent weight balance and visibility made it easy to control exactly as intended, to the point where it is difficult to find any real weaknesses. This rally once again reminded me of the strength and capability that have made Mitsubishi Motors a brand I have admired since childhood."

Race car specifications 

Based on the model's 2023 version, which was developed in compliance with FIA Group T1 regulations (modified cross-country vehicles), the Mitsubishi Triton AXCR race cars have evolved and been refined since then. 

Check out their respective specifications:

Specifications	Yotha/Sombutwong Car Taguchi/Yasui Car	Koide/Chiba Car
Total length and width (in millimeters [mm>)	4,920 x 1,995	5,070 x 1,865
Wheelbase (in mm)	3,130
Tread (in mm)	1,730	1,570
Engine	Four-cylinder, 2.4-liter turbocharged diesel (4N16)
Fuel injector	High-pressure common rail
Turbocharger	Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engine and Turbocharger VG Turbo charger
Maximum output (in horsepower)	214.6 or more
Maximum torque (in Newton-meters)	500 or more
Exhaust system	HKS AXCR Competition Model
Transmission	Six-speed sequential transmission Moty’s gear oil Ogura Clutch reinforced clutch	Six-speed automatic transmission
Four-wheel-drive system	Full-time	Super Select 4WD-II
Front/Rear Differential	Cusco limited-slip differential
Front suspension	Independent suspension/double wishbone coil spring
Rear suspension	Rigid/four-link coil spring
Shock absorbers	Cusco adjustable front and rear twin dampers
Bump stops	Hydraulic
Steering	Rack and pinion (power steering)
Brakes	Endless monoblock brake calipers, ventilated disc, pads FORTEC racing brake fluid
Wheels	WORK CRAG T-GRABIC MC aluminum alloy wheels (17-inch x 7J)
Tires	Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 (245/75R17)
Other features	Carbon fiber: engine hood, front fenders, front and rear door panels, cargo outer panel	Carbon fiber: engine hood, rear door panels, cargo outer panels

Aside from the three race cars, Team Mitsubishi Ralliart also had four Delica D:5 support cars deployed at the event.

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