There are two new pickups to watch out for in this August’s Asia Cross Country Rally – one is the new and improved Triton from Mitsubishi, and this is the other one.

Toyota Gazoo Racing Thailand has revealed its newest challenger for 2024 – the Hilux GR Sport. Wearing the new black TGR signature livery, the Hilux GR Sport looks mean and ready to defend the brand's victory achieved by TGR Team Indonesia with the Fortuner at last year’s AXCR.

TGR Thailand did not reveal much details about the Hilux GR Sport for AXCR. While it looks very much like the production model, the Hilux GR Sport rally truck has been tweaked to comply to the same Group T1 specifications for modified cross-country vehicles as the Mitsubishi Triton.

Those include the addition of FIA-homologated rollcage, seats, and harnesses inside, as well as  safety devices such as a killswitch and an integrated fire extinguisher. On the outside, Toyota installed provisions for spare tires, and recovery equipment such as traction boards and receiver hitches. Unlike the Triton, the Hilux GR Sport wears its factory 17-inch wheels wrapped in Grandtrek mud-terrain tires from Dunlop.

Powertrain details were also unavailable, but we won’t be surprised if the Hilux GR Sport for AXCR carries over the 2.8-liter 1GD-FTV engine with 224 PS and 550 Nm of torque paired to a 6-speed manual transmission.

Toyota Gazoo Racing Thailand will field an all-Thai team that will consist of drivers Natthaphon Angritthanon with co-driver Thanyaphat Meenil, Mana Pornsiricherd and co-drive Kittisak Klinchan, and Jaras Jaengkamolkulchai with co-driver: Sinopong Trairat.

This year’s Asia Cross Country Rally will begin on the coast of the Gulf of Thailand on August 11, and will finish at August 17 on Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur.