Team Mitsubishi RALLIART Returns to the Asia Cross Country Rally 2023

Between all the awards lists and competitions, there is one race overseas that tests the ruggedness and capability of vehicles – it’s the Asia Cross Country Rally (AXCR)! Many well-known automakers enter modified versions of vehicles in their lineup to win the race, and wouldn’t you know it, Mitsubishi Motors has been there to claim the crown in recent years. Last year, they entered a modified Triton pickup truck and took first place, plus fifth place with another vehicle. This year, three vehicles being modified into Ralliart rally cars are joining the race, from Thailand to Cambodia.

The AXCR is a grueling race that stretches over 637 km. Broken into two parts, vehicles have to master the rough, dry unpaved roads of Thailand in a high-speed stage, followed by five timed special stages in Cambodia, filled with muddy roads and puddles. It’s sure to test the capability of any vehicle, and that’s why Team Mitsubishi RALLIART took its all-new Triton and modified it in line with AXCR vehicle restrictions to offer more durability, reliability, stable handling, and powerful and responsive driving performance. This includes a roll cage and bumper guard; carbon fiber parts including the hood, front and rear doors, and cargo bed; weight reductions in the vehicle’s interior components; rally-specific front and rear suspension made up of independent double-wishbone with coil springs and rigid leaf springs, respectively; and of course its already tough chassis improved with front and rear twin dampers.

“We are very excited to be able to take on the competition with the all-new Triton, which has been fully redesigned and evolved significantly in all aspects. Triton rally cars have undergone over 2,000 km of endurance testing in Japan and Thailand with no major problems, and we have confirmed that they provide even better performance than last year’s model in every stage, from flat dirt high-speed stages to muddy low-speed stages. We will be driving with three rally cars, each of which is competing for the overall victory, and we want to take the championship position up on the podium for another consecutive victory.” – Team Mitsubishi RALLIART team director Hiroshi Masuoka

Behind the helm of the Triton is Chayapon Yotha (Thailand), champion driver of last year’s AXCR. Meeting him on the road is the fifth place winner of last year, Rifat Sungkar (Indonesia). Bringing another driver out of retirement, Katsuhiko Taguchi (Japan), who won the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship in 1999 and 2010, will be driving the third rally-modified vehice for the AXCR 2023. Along the way, Team director Hiroshi Masuoka and Mitsubishi Motors engineers will be following the rally crew in the Delica D:5, a van with the capabilities of an SUV and the comfort of a minivan. Offering the drivers information about the competition conditions for the varying racing segments and formulating strategies to provide technical support for service, all of it works like a well-oiled machine when put together.

The Triton and other two rally cars will be there at the starting line in August 2023. Be sure to follow along with us on University Mitsubishi social media for more news about Mitsubishi Motors and the AXCR 2023.

Photo Source/Copyright: Mitsubishi Media