November 22nd (Tuesday) Sunny Buriram → Buriram

Total: 430.63km Liaison: 229.58km SS: 201.05km

LEG 1

The first dry season battle, starting from the gravel stage!

This year's course is not typical compared from the past. Because from LEG1 (the first day of the competition) through LEG3, not only immediately starts on unpaved road stage, but all in a loop course that starts and ends at the Modena Hotel, where the headquarters is located.

LEG4 also started from the same hotel. run through Thailand SS (speed measure section), fellow by crossing the border into Cambodia, head towards the town of Siem Reap.

Due to course setting time encounter heavy rain, only LEG5 the last section will be held in Cambodia.

This time around, able everyone to stay in the same hotel for 4 days straight, making it far more convenient for all team and crews. Avoiding the hassle of daily check in check out, loading and unloading from transport, every earlier morning and again late at night at daily new finishing point.

Especially this year, organizers are focusing on recuperating the operation, from the postponement due to Covid pandemic. So are for the drivers and race teams, who have not able to participate races. Nevertheless, sense of competition are all regain quite fast naturally for all.

The longest stage and highlight of the first half

The first day of competition, has the longest total distance of 430km! The SS (race section) was about 200km, the liaison (moving section) was about 230km, making it the longest race distance in this years race.

The racers left the hotel at 7:00am, travel liaison 125 km in order to arrived at the starting point. Base on previous day's Super SS time, 16 motorcycles started at 1-minute intervals.

This is the first race to be held in the dry season, it was expected that the road surface conditions would be significantly different from all previous years.

However, the road conditions seems to be much harder than expected. Below are common feedbacks from serval AUTO 4 wheels teams; “uneven road conditions, bouncing us all over the place, causing my backs to hurt”, “sharp terrain is scraping the under guard non stop”.

Although many have predicted this in advance, but organizers intentionally set many junctions and turns, which resulting all teams could not achieve a high average speed as they might have hoped.

NISHIMURA Hironori of Team Japan with the fast phase.

Top time from the Moto is accomplish by NISHIMURA Hironori of #3 Team Japan, driving his Husqvarna TE250i. He set yesterday top Super SS time, seems he is carrying his good momentum through today, and in hope continuously to the final finish line.

In 2nd place #24 Daravuth Chan of Team Cambodia on Suzuki RMX 450Z. 3rd place #20 Koun Phandara of Team Cambodia on KTM 450 EXC-F.

Japanese manufacturers are engage in three-way battle

AUTO 4 Wheel Top today is #105 Mitsubishi Triton. Chayapon Yotha / Peerapong SOMBUTWONG set a gap of nearly 4 minutes over second place, demonstrating the high momentum of the MITSUBISHI RALLIART team.

In 2nd place, #117 Isuzu D-Max. entrees of total 3 cars this year, the Isuzu Suphan Explorer Rally Team's, Ditsapong MANEEIN / Prakai NAMJAITHAHAN team showed the strength of the champion Isuzu is still very much unchanged!

However #101 Isuzu Suphan Explorer Rally Team's Suwat LIMJIRAPINYA / Prakob CHAOTHALE, whom showed overwhelming speed in yesterday Super SS, has fallen back significantly due to machine trouble.

In 3rd place, #112 Toyota Hilux Revo. Theerapong PIMPAWAT / Banpoth AMPORNMAHA from NEXZTER REST CLUB (NXRC) demonstrate Hilux strength is all here and well.

In 4th place is wheel chair driver ♯108 AOKI Takuma / Itthipon SIMARAKS. He deserves even more attention this year, as the team Fortuner GEOLANDAR takuma-gp, on Toyota Fortuner are carrying good pace.

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MITSUBISHI RALLIART entered 3 cars to compete, unfortunately one driver became ill the night before, was later tested positive for Covid, which leads him to withdrew from the race entirely.

Although in Thailand, it is now allowing covid positive person to be at work as is. But team director Hiroshi Masuoka had made a tough decision to not allow the infected driver to continue. Luckily covid did not spread to the team, but they will continue to take monitoring steps, and require all staff to be tested daily.

Such an exciting race, with AUTO 4 wheels top position all held by each of the Japanese manufacturers pickup trucks; Mitsubishi, Isuzu, and Toyota, we surly cannot wait, to see how the race drama will continue develop by the end of tomorrow!

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In addition, awards are set for all 6 SSs including the Super SS in this years rally. Yesterday WURTH Prizes were awarded to the top three at dinner party. Asian Rally Friendship Association gave out prizes to MOTO top 5, AUTO top 3 finish of the day.