AXCR 2024: Battle between Toyota, Mitsubishi, Isuzu at midway point

The Asia Cross Country Rally has reached its halfway point, and three of the most popular brands in the country are locked in a tight battle for overall victory.

Toyota, Mitsubishi, and Isuzu are occupying the top six places so far in this year’s rally. Leading the way is the #115 Fortuner GR-S of Team Toyota Gazoo Racing Indonesia, completing the first three Special Stages with a total time of 5 hours, 17 minutes and 43 seconds. The #115 Fortuner driven by 60-year old Ikuo Hanawa surged ahead by posting the fastest time on SS2 and SS3 to build a 7 minute lead.

In second place, however, and hot on its heels is the #103 Triton rally truck of Team Mitsubishi Ralliart driven by Chayapon Yotha. The Triton lost time at SS2 but Yotha and co-driver Peerapong Sombutwong were quickly back to matching the #115 Fortuner’s pace by SS3.

Meanwhile, currently in third place overall is Isuzu Suphan Explorer Liqui Moly Rally Team with the D-Max pickup truck. The #106 D-Max was in 2nd place overall after SS2 but dropped to third at the end as it finished SS3 10 minutes slower than the #103 Triton.

Impressively, the 3rd placed D-Max is keeping up with the Triton and Fortuner despite being in the T2D class – a lower classification that features less modifications, but is significantly lighter than the Triton and Fortuner that follows the T1 regulations.

In fourth place is the T1D-classified sister D-Max of Isuzu Suphan Explorer Liqui Moly Rally Team, while the #107 Triton of Team Mitsubishi Ralliart and the #140 Hilux of Team Fast Forward Sport occupy 5th and 6th places, respectively.

Minute gaps between teams are expected given that competitive special stages can have distances of over 100 kilometers long. But after seeing how one special stage can shake up the leaderboard, anything can still happen. So who are you betting on?