November 25th (Friday) Sunny Buriram → Siem Reap

Total: 432.51km Liaison: 351.83km SS: 80.68km

LEG 4

MOTO 2 wheels Top position exchange drama day!
AUTO 4 wheels no major changes for top 10 positions.

Team Japan's NISHIMURA takes back the overall top position!

MOTO 2 wheels race drama continues, and ferocious top position exchange happened! ♯20 Koun Phandara （KTM 450EXC-F) started with a comfortable 2 minute 20 seconds lead from yesterday results. However, #3 Team Japan's NISHIMURA Hironori (Husqvarna TE250i) passing the lead by 28 seconds to regain top leader position!

#20 Phandara finished 2nd overall. Team Cambodia's #24 Daravuth Chan (SUZUKI RMX 450Z) and #1 MATSUMOTO Norihisa (KTM 350EXC-F) are still keeping in 3rd and 4th place.

The battle for victory is still focusing on the current top 4 riders, as the time gap between them is nearly 5 minutes apart. Tomorrow's final SS6 in Cambodia will be a short 48km, therefore to close the gap will be an extremely difficult task to achieve.

However, in this year Cambodian stage, hidden mud traps and waterbeds area are expected here and there. Therefore victory will face further drama in true rally fashion.

No major changes in the AUTO 4 wheels overall ranking. however, privet teams activities are catching attentions.

AUTO 4 wheels factory teams are showing their strength and consistency. In today 80km SS top 9 positions are just merely 3 minutes apart!

The first daily top finish #115 Tawee Neanna / Athikij SRIMONGKHOL of Ayumi Racing Team driving Isuzu D-MAX. Followed by #116 Fortuner GEOLANDAR takuma-gp by HANAWA Ikuo / SOMEMIYA Hirokazu.

In 4th and 5th place finished are #118 RIFAT HELMY SUNGKAR / Chupong CHAIWAN of Team Mitsubishi Ralliart, #105 Chayapon Yotha / Peerapong SOMBUTWONG Triton, and #102 of Toyota Cross Country Team Thailand in 6th and 7th place. followed by Jaras Jaengkamolkulchai / Sinoppong TRAIRAT and #103 Mana Pornsiricherd / Thanyaphat MEENIL's Toyota Hilux Revo.

Due to the close gap times among the top teams, the overall standings remained unchanged from yesterday, with Mitsubishi Triton in 1st place, followed by Toyota Hilux Revo, Toyota Fortuner, Mitsubishi Triton, Toyota Fortuner, and in 6th place Isuzu D-MAX staying in the fight.

ARTA Autobacs Rally Team team from Japan, #123 MASUKAWA Takumi / TAKEYABU Hideki, continued to run steadily from the start, even its their first entry as a private team, they continues holding on in 9th position respectfully.

Their vehicle in used is Japan purchasable Hilux MSB (TRD Motorsports customized specification). Unlike the factory team that use 2.8-liter turbo diesel, their engine is a 2.4-liter, and with modest degree of modification, truly proves that the Hilux MSB, is a car that is capable and competitive to race in AXCR competition.

Watching the factory team battling out are undeniable exciting, nonetheless, the spirit of AXCR started with gathering just the private teams, all simply passionate in pure rally competition. We definitely hope to see more of the private team, in cars like these, competing in the up coming years.

Tomorrow is the first SS in Cambodia. And sadly, it is was also the last SS of the race. The course is expected to be very bumpy and narrow, with hidden mud sections and waterbeds. If you let your guard down even a little, not only will your ranking drop significantly due to getting stuck or machine trouble, but also the possibility of retire is still very real.

I look forward to see all entrees and participant, reaching the goal at Angkor Wat temple safely!