Opotiki-born rally driver Mike Young has switched codes to race a Toyota Hilux in Thailand.
It was "a totally new experience" for Young and navigator Amy Hudson, who finished second overall and first in class at last weekend's two-day XCR Sprint Cup held 150km west of Bangkok.
"I really enjoyed the faster smoother roads, but when it was rough I wasn't quite sure how much to push. The trucks are built really strong and as the event went on I got more confident going hard through the rough and rocky stages.
"Very happy with our result given we were racing in the production class against much more modified trucks," he said.
The Hilux was so close to showroom class that it even had air conditioning.
"It was humid and 35 degrees most of the time, we made good use of that!”
Young was invited to drive by the Thailand based Fast Forward Sport team and given his result there may be future invitations. Young and Hudson say they were impressed by the warm hospitality and enthusiasm of the Thai motorsport community.
This achievement marks another milestone in Young's international rally career, further showcasing his adaptability across different vehicles and terrain.
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