ASIA CROSS COUNTRY RALLY 2023
Team Director - Mitsubishi Motors
Hiroshi Masuoka
As a member of the Mitsubishi Motors works team "Team MITSUBISHI RALLIART", he competed in off-road events for many years. In 2002 and 2003, he became the first Japanese driver to win the Dakar Rally for 2 consecutive years.
Shingo Irikata
Team MITSUBISHI RALLIART – Management of Engineer
Yasuo Tanaka
Team MITSUBISHI RALLIART – Technical Support (Body, Chassis)
Takashi Shibayama
Team MITSUBISHI RALLIART – Technical Support (Engine)
Tetsuya Makita
Team MITSUBISHI RALLIART – Technical Support (Engine)
Chayut Yangpichit
Team MITSUBISHI RALLIART – Team Principal, TANT SPORT
Kopong Amatayakul
Team MITSUBISHI RALLIART – Team Director, TANT SPORT
Drivers and Co-Drivers
Team MITSUBISHI RALLIART – Team Driver
Chayapon Yotha
“Today, MITSUBISHI RALLIART Team is back to Motorsports. I’m so proud to be part of the team. It’s a giant leap for me in Motorsports. The desire to win drives me in this race. I’m not scared of speed. I love the challenge.”
He has won numerous races since 2012, including the Thailand Super Series, Thailand Autocross Championship, and RAAT Thailand Endurance Championship International. In 2019, he took victories in the Thailand Super Series' Supercar GTC and other competitions.
Team MITSUBISHI RALLIART – Co-Driver
Peerapong Sombutwong
“The car needs to be new and ready every day. We gather together to tackle any issues to compose the car as new, ready for the next day.”
Team MITSUBISHI RALLIART – Team Driver
Rifat Sungkar
“We have a word. Racing drivers always see 1 corner 1,000 times, but rally drivers always see 1,000 corners 1 time. We need to have a very good hearing about the information your co-driver says.”
One of Indonesia's top drivers, he has won the Indonesian Sprint Rally Championship in 1997, been an Indonesian Rally Championship winner three years in a row up to 2002, and more. In 2012, he was named brand ambassador for PT Mitsubishi Motors Krama Yudha Sales Indonesia (MMKSI). In 2019 and 2021, he won overall victories at the Indonesian Sprint Rally Championship in a Mitsubishi Xpander.
Team MITSUBISHI RALLIART – Co-Driver
Chupong Chaiwan
“I’ve always loved the car race since I was a kid. I’m confident that from the experience of the MITSUBISHI RALLIART team, they are able to develop the car that allows them to achieve the goal in Asia Cross Country Rally this year.”
Team MITSUBISHI RALLIART – Team Driver
Katsuhiko Taguchi
First participation in a cross country rally from AXCR 2023. At age 18, he got into motor sports through dirt trials. When he was 20, he won his first All Japan Dirt Trial Championship, demonstrating his talents at an early age. As a member of Mitsubishi Motors Works Team, he began taking part in overseas rallies such as the World Rally Championship (WRC) from a young age. In 1999 and 2010, he won the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC). In 2007, he won the Rally Japan in Group N.
Team MITSUBISHI RALLIART – Co-Driver
Takahiro Yasui
All-New Triton Rally Car
Find out more about our official entry to the AXCR race, the Mitsubishi Triton Rally Car.