Team Mitsubishi Ralliart Enters Asia Cross Country Rally 2026 with Three Tritons

Tokyo, March 24, 2026 – Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (hereafter, Mitsubishi Motors) announced that Team Mitsubishi Ralliart, which receives technical support from the company, will compete in the Asia Cross Country Rally (AXCR) 2026 in Thailand this August.

The team plans to field three Triton^* pickup trucks in pursuit of back‑to‑back victories, and a new livery for the Triton rally car (modified cross-country vehicle, or the T1 specifications) was revealed at the 47th Bangkok International Motor Show.

Mitsubishi Motors has long viewed motorsports as a vital development field that hones the skills of its engineers and the performance of its vehicles, and will once again leverage the demanding rally environment to further enhance its product development.

In 2025, Team Mitsubishi Ralliart entered three Triton rally cars with enhanced power and durability. Ace driver Chayapon Yotha (Thailand) took the overall lead on Leg 3 and, despite getting stuck in deep mud on Leg 5, maintained an aggressive pace to secure victory by a narrow margin of approximately seven minutes — marking the team’s second overall AXCR win and its first in three years.

AXCR 2026 will cover approximately 2,000 kilometers across Thailand over six days. With competing teams strengthening their vehicles, the Triton has also undergone further development. Its engine, suspension, and other key components have been carefully refined to maximize its potential, ensuring the team enters the rally in peak condition.

Team Mitsubishi Ralliart is owned by Tant Sport (Thailand) and helmed by Hiroshi Masuoka, team director from Mitsubishi Motors. Mitsubishi Motors engineers are responsible for developing the rally cars and will accompany the team to provide technical support during the competition.
The driver and co-driver lineup will continue to feature Chayapon Yotha and Peerapong Sombutwong, who claimed overall victory in AXCR 2022 and 2025, along with Katsuhiko Taguchi and Takahiro Yasui, the top-finishing Japanese duo in AXCR 2025 who placed fifth, and Kazuto Koide and Eiji Chiba who supported two team cars last year.

At the 47th Bangkok International Motor Show, the team unveiled the new Triton livery for AXCR 2026. Inspired by its rally vehicles, the Lancer Evolution and Pajero — both of which achieved numerous victories in the World Rally Championship and the Dakar Rally — the new design highlights a bold and powerful red color scheme as its defining feature. The digital sandstorm graphic and Ralliart logo, carried over from the previous model as symbols of the team, capture the energy of dust kicked up by rally cars. Their dynamic, rising layout from the front to the rear virtually conveys Mitsubishi Motors’ enduring passion for motorsports.

“Last year, Yotha delivered a consistent performance, finishing near the top of every leg without major setbacks. He took the overall lead on the third day and stayed out front through the finish to secure the victory. The Triton’s outstanding reliability, combined with its exceptional handling and off‑road strength, allowed him to push through the toughest stages with confidence and control. Even in sections with brutal terrain, he overcame the challenges with support from his teammates. Taguchi also demonstrated Triton’s competitiveness by setting the fastest time on Leg 5, the longest leg of the rally. We have continued to refine the vehicle while staying true to its core concept, and we will enter this year’s AXCR with the same thorough preparation as last season. This year, we are aiming for a 1‑2 finish with Yotha and Taguchi.”

Team Director: Hiroshi Masuoka (Mitsubishi Motors)
Team Principal: Chayut Yangpichit (Tant Sport)
Technical Director: Kopong Amatayakul (Tant Sport)
Drivers and Co-drivers:

The AXCR is the largest cross country rally in the ASEAN region, challenging competitors with a wide variety of demanding terrain including tropical rainforests, jungle tracks, muddy roads, river crossings, and mountainous routes. The rally tests not only vehicle performance but also the combined skills, and teamwork of the drivers and co drivers. AXCR 2026 will take place entirely in Thailand. The event will begin with a ceremonial start on August 9 in Pattaya, a major tourist destination located on the eastern coast of the Gulf of Thailand. Competitive stages will begin on August 10, with the route heading north through diverse landscapes before reaching the finish on August 15 in Phitsanulok, a key transportation hub in northern Thailand. The total distance is expected to be approximately 2,000 kilometers.

AXCR 2026 Website (official):
https://asiacrosscountryrally.com/

Ralliart Social Media Channel (official):
Instagram：https://www.instagram.com/ralliart.official/

*The Triton is sold as the L200 in some markets.

About Mitsubishi Motors
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (TSE:7211) — a member of the Alliance with Renault and Nissan — is a global automobile company based in Tokyo, Japan, which has about 28,000 employees and a global footprint with production facilities in Japan and the ASEAN region. Mitsubishi Motors has a competitive edge in SUVs, pickup trucks and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and appeals to ambitious drivers willing to challenge convention and embrace innovation. Since the production of our first vehicle more than a century ago, Mitsubishi Motors has been a leader in electrification — launched the i-MiEV, the world’s first mass-produced electric vehicle in 2009, followed by the Outlander PHEV, the world’s first plug-in hybrid electric SUV in 2013. With a target of increasing the sales ratio of electrified vehicles to 100% by 2035, Mitsubishi Motors will deliver models that embody Mitsubishi Motors-ness and contribute to the realization of a carbon-neutral society.
For more information on Mitsubishi Motors, please visit the company's website at
https://www.mitsubishi-motors.com/en/