There’s really something hidden behind the confident smile Hiroshi Masuoka gave at the start of this year’s Asia Cross Country Rally.

After taking a steady start in the first three legs, Team Mitsubishi Ralliart is now leading the rally after Leg 4. The #103 Triton driven by 2022 winner Chayapon Yotha has overturned a 7 minute deficit to a 24 minute lead heading into the rally’s final two legs.

Yotha and co-driver Peerapong Sombutwong set the second fastest time on SS4, setting a time of 3 hours, 26 minutes and 45 seconds. They were only bested by the #105 Toyota Gazoo Racing Hilux that finished the course just 5 seconds faster than the Triton.

The two trucks were in a class of their own at SS4, finishing almost 10 minutes faster anyone else and 23 minutes faster than the third-placed Isuzu D-MAX of the Suphan Explorer Liqui Moly Rally Team.

Meanwhile, the #115 Toyota Gazoo Racing Indonesia Fortuner that was leading after Leg 3 had a troubled day, as 60-year old Ikuo Hanawa could only muster a time 1 hour slower than the #103 Triton. As a result, the #115 Fortuner has dropped to 7th place overall.

On the other hand, the sister #107 Triton driven by Katsuhiko Taguchi is in 5th place overall. After Leg 4 in the overall standings, the top six places consist of two Tritons, two Hilux GR-S, and two D-Max pickup trucks.

The next Leg will feature the longest SS of the rally with a 172.15 km section set in an area west to northwest from the base in Kanchanaburi. With the Hilux and Triton looking evenly matched in terms of pace, it’s going to be a tight battle at the top until the end.