Toyota Hilux TRAVO Finishes Second at Asia Cross Country Rally 2026

Toyota Gazoo Racing Thailand, supported by Toyota Motor Thailand and collaborating with Thai engineering teams from Toyota Motor Asia (Thailand) and TCD Asia, delivered an excellent performance at the Asia Cross Country Rally 2026 (AXCR 2026), piloting the Hilux TRAVO to second place in both the T1D class and overall standings while also claiming the team championship runner-up award. The team successfully navigated a brutal 2,000-kilometer course from Pattaya to Phitsanulok over six days and six stages.

The AXCR 2026 is one of Asia's most challenging cross-country rally events. This year's route ran from Pattaya in Chachoengsao Province through Prachuap Khiri Khan, Nakhon Sawan, and Kamphaeng Phet before finishing in Phitsanulok. Competitors faced high-speed dust trails, gravel roads, water crossings, muddy tracks from monsoon rains, steep inclines, and technical off-road sections that tested driving skills, navigation, and vehicle performance comprehensively.

Throughout the six-day, six-stage competition, Toyota Gazoo Racing Thailand stayed close to the front runners. The Hilux TRAVO demonstrated speed, durability, and reliability under extreme racing conditions while the engineering and service teams worked tirelessly to maintain three race vehicles. Car number 102, driven by One-Mana Phonsiricharaind with co-driver Ton-Kitsak Klinjanchon, achieved the best performance in stage four and led that day before finishing second in both the T1D class and overall standings with a combined time of 13 hours and 45 seconds. Car number 107, driven by Joob-Nathpol Angrithanont with co-driver Tam-Thanypat Meenul, finished 11th in the T1D class and 20th overall with a time of 16 hours, 40 minutes, and 39 seconds. Car number 130 in the T2A-D class, driven by Kaeng-Phurimasai Thinjanchon with co-driver Lek-Prakay Namjai Thahan, secured seventh in class and 16th overall with a time of 15 hours, 13 minutes, and 35 seconds.

Team director Suthipong Smitchat said after the competition: "AXCR is a challenging event for cars, drivers, and teams in every dimension. This year everyone worked at full capacity—drivers, co-drivers, engineers, and service crews. This success is not only a proud competitive result but another test of both the vehicles and drivers. We thank everyone for their support and cheering throughout the event."

Beyond the competition success, the AXCR 2026 served as an important testing ground for gathering data from real-world operating conditions under the harshest circumstances, evaluating performance, durability, vehicle control, and component reliability. This data will feed back into vehicle development under the vision of "Making Ever-Better Motorsports-Bred Cars," evolving racing-proven vehicles into better automobiles for everyday use.