LEG5 started some 15km closer into the original intend starting point, shrink the SS distance down to just 215 km. last chance for those on defense or on offense to fight for the finish.

Overall course are dry with scatter wet and muddy area, racing through farm lands, plantation and small villages, its like a condensed version of what rally in Thailand has to offer.

2 wheels quick summary report;

The brutal SS course had take the toll on both ♯14 Daigo MIYAZAKI and ♯22 Hiroshi TASAKI motorcycles, both unable to complete the course, and had to be loaded back to the finish line. Yet the sportsmanship among all participants are extremely high this year, many had stop to try help with their repair, the sprit and passion of rally can be seen everywhere.

The highlight of the day goes to the very tight dog fight over the top group. Overall #1 positions Jakkrit CHAWTALE （Thai・KTM 350 EXC-F) and #2 positions Yoshio IKEMACHI（JPN.KTM 350 EXC-F), basically stick to each other very closely to the finish.

Follow by #3 Tadao EZURE（YAMAHA YZ450FX）whom also like many other rider, doing their best not to miss course, by reading the road map closely, and riding as hard as they can to keep reach of the bike ahead.

The top finishers of the day is 1st position ♯30 FURUKAWA BATTERY INDONESIA のKadex Yuli RAMAYADI（indonesia・HUSQVARNA FE250）。2nd position ♯3 Tadao EZURE, 3rd position ♯1 Jakkrit CHAWTALE.

4 wheels quick summary report;

Lead car ♯101 Nutthaphon ANGRITTHANON（THA）/ Peerapong SOMBUTWONG（Thai）overall 2nd position Toyota Cross Country Team Thailand ♯102 Tadamitsu NIIHORI (JPN) / Chupong CHAIWAN（THA）are the focus of the race.

Unfortunately in the first half of the race, Toyota Cross Country Team Thailand ♯102 NIIHORI, encounter hard to remove dirt on his front window, causing him to slow down due to poor visibility.

At second half of the race, in the heavy mud section, where NIIHORI got stock infront of the large media, fortunately his teammate catches up and able to help him get ranch out to continue on his way.

In 2nd ♯115 Paitoon THAMMASIRIKUL (THA) / Somkiat NOICHAD (THA) Isuzu D-Max。3rd Nutthaphon teammates ♯103 Wongwirot PALAWAT (THA)(Isuzu D-Max), 6th position NIIHORI teammate ♯119 Jaras JEANGKAMOLKULCHAI (THA) / Kittisak KLINCHAN (THA) finished 4th。

The end of this LEG5, overall 1st position Nutthaphon and overall 2nd NIIHORI have a 37 minutes and 36 seconds gaps between them, if this continues, Nutthaphon looks like he will able to win 2 years in the roll.

4th position ♯106 Wichawat CHOTIRAVEE (THA) / Chonlanut PHOPIPAT (THA) Isuzu D-Max。

Coming 6th on the podium contender is ♯108 Takuma AOKI (JPN) / Ittipon SIMARAKS (THA) / Katsuhiko SHIINE (JPN) Toyota Fortuner, with some unexpected physical hardships, he still manage to enjoy rally racing to the max.

Tomorrow LEG6 the last stage of 2017 Asia Cross Country Rally, with short SS just 80 km, look forward to the end of this years rally drama!

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