Motorsports
Mitsubishi Gears Up for AXCR 2025 with Three Rally Beasts
Mitsubishi Ralliart to Field Three Tritons in AXCR 2025 Thailand Rally
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation has confirmed its return to the Asia Cross Country Rally (AXCR) with three heavily modified Triton pickup trucks, aiming to reclaim the championship title in the 30th edition of the event set for August 8 to 16, 2025, in Thailand.
Team Mitsubishi Ralliart, backed technically by Mitsubishi Motors and operated by Tant Sport (Thailand), is pushing for its first overall win since 2022. The team is led by Hiroshi Masuoka, with support from Mitsubishi engineers who are enhancing the Triton’s durability, torque, and off-road performance for the tougher rally route this year, which now stretches to approximately 2,500 km over eight days.
Drivers Chayapon Yotha and Katsuhiko Taguchi will lead the title charge, while Mitsubishi test driver Kazuto Koide returns with an auto transmission-equipped Triton to validate future tech and support teammates. All three entries have undergone high-load testing in June near Khao Yai National Park, fine-tuning components such as suspension, engine cooling, and body integrity for extreme terrain.
Masuoka noted the new Triton has proven capable in all terrains, saying, “We’ve improved everything from engine torque to the chassis setup. We’re ready to win.”
The driver line-up includes:
- Chayapon Yotha (Thailand) with co-driver Peerapong Sombutwong – 2022 AXCR champion.
- Katsuhiko Taguchi (Japan) with Takahiro Yasui – Fifth place in 2024.
- Kazuto Koide (Japan) with Eiji Chiba – Mitsubishi test driver, made his AXCR debut last year.
The rally-ready Tritons feature 2.4L turbo diesel engines producing over 160kW and 500Nm, reinforced suspension by CUSCO, sequential and automatic transmissions, and carbon fiber body parts. Tires are Yokohama’s GEOLANDAR M/T G003, suited for deep mud and rocky terrain.
Key technical partners include HKS, CUSCO, ENDLESS, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
AXCR 2025 will run entirely within Thailand after organizers cancelled the Cambodia leg. The race starts and ends in Pattaya, crossing mountains, jungles, and rivers, testing both machine and man.
Nissan Formula E Team’s rookie and simulator driver Abbi Pulling impressed at the all-women’s Formula E test in Valencia, clocking the second-fastest time in both morning and afternoon sessions at Circuit Ricardo Tormo.
The British driver, who recently clinched the F1 Academy title, completed 89 laps during her third official outing with Nissan. She recorded a best lap of 1:22.831 aboard the Nissan e-4ORCE 05, taking on a mix of race runs, qualifying laps, and pit stop training. The program marked the conclusion of Formula E’s pre-season testing ahead of the 2024/25 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship opener in São Paulo on December 6.
“It was a very productive day, and we’re pleased with Abbi’s performance,” said Tommaso Volpe, managing director and team principal of Nissan Formula E. “She’s progressing fast, giving strong feedback, and showing confidence with each outing.”
Pulling shared the same enthusiasm: “Setting the second-quickest time in both sessions feels great. I hit my goal of breaking into the 1:22s and improved a lot on energy management during race simulations. These cars are demanding but a lot of fun to drive.”
The test capped a strong pre-season for Nissan, whose main drivers Oliver Rowland and Norman Nato also completed four days of running earlier in the week. With Rowland defending his drivers’ title, the team looks to carry its momentum into the upcoming season.
Lando Norris extended his Formula One championship lead to 24 points after an impressive victory at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, capping off a weekend filled with tension, crashes, and shifting fortunes across the grid.
The 25-year-old McLaren driver, who once admitted to overthinking and caring too much about public perception, now appears transformed. Gone is the self-doubting “nice guy” of last year’s heartbreak in Brazil. In his place stands a more focused, battle-hardened racer who simply said, “Ignore everyone that talks crap about you and just focus on yourself.”
That mindset has paid off. Norris now has seven wins and ten podiums this season, including eight second-place finishes—more than any other driver. His teammate Oscar Piastri, who once led the standings by 30 points, hasn’t finished on the podium since Monza and has lost momentum.
Meanwhile, Max Verstappen’s chances of defending his title are fading. The four-time champion started from the pit lane but still managed to finish third behind Norris and Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli. Despite admitting that a 49-point deficit is “too many points to really have a proper chance,” Verstappen vowed not to give up, with his eyes set on Las Vegas.
Ferrari, however, endured another nightmare weekend. Both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc retired, marking Ferrari’s second consecutive double DNF. Hamilton, who hasn’t stood on the podium in 21 races, was penalized after a collision and could only lament a tough season.
McLaren now lead the constructors’ standings, followed by Mercedes and Red Bull. Ferrari, down to fourth, are counting the days until 2026’s rule reset.
Tanauan City, Batangas — The 2025 Regional Underbone Grand Prix (RUGP) wrapped up with a strong finish for the Honda Project M Estremo Racing Team, led by standout rider #44 Ephraim Onahon, who clinched the Overall Championship in both the Limited and Open Underbone categories.
Racing across four rounds in Visayas and Mindanao, the team showed grit and consistency aboard the Honda Winner X — a 150cc liquid-cooled DOHC motorcycle built for both agility and control. The machine’s strong acceleration, aerodynamic design, and assist/slipper clutch gave riders the confidence to take on challenging track conditions while staying fast and stable through every corner.
Despite tough competition, the team’s discipline and teamwork carried them through, reflecting Honda’s “Road to Champion” spirit. The success of Onahon and his crew highlighted how skill, preparation, and the right machine can make all the difference on the circuit.
Honda Philippines, Inc. (HPI) supported the team throughout the season, reaffirming its commitment to developing local racing talent and making motorsports more accessible to Filipino riders. “Racing builds discipline and passion,” HPI said. “Through the Project M Estremo Racing Team, we continue to inspire Filipinos to pursue the thrill of the sport.”
As the 2025 RUGP season closes, the Honda Project M Estremo Racing Team celebrates not just a championship, but a journey of perseverance, teamwork, and the unrelenting pursuit of speed.
