The new generation of the Mitsubishi Triton/L200 midsize pickup will premiere on July 26, but the first rally-spec variant is already entering its first competition. The factory-backed Team Mitsubishi Ralliart will enter the Asia Cross Country Rally (AXCR) in August 2023, following the victorious debut of its predecessor in last year’s event.
The new Mitsubishi Triton was recently
previewed with the rugged-looking XRT concept, while the production version
appeared in official teasers. The cross-country rally variant which is going
through the last stages of development appeared in an official gallery, wearing
the same camouflage wrap. According to the press release, the new rally car
“has been completely redesigned, including its body, frame, chassis, and
engine”. The model is compatible with the Group T1 regulations and has a number
of upgrades compared to the stock pickup. The rally-prepped Triton has been
retrofitted with a snorkel, recovery mounting points, red mud flaps, beadlock
wheels by Work shod in Geolandar M/T tires, and an extra spare wheel on the
rear bed. We can also see the increased ground clearance courtesy of a
beefed-up suspension, as well as the stripped-out interior with a roll cage and
racing seats.
Speaking about the new vehicle, Team
Mitsubishi Ralliart director and two-time Dakar winner Hiroshi Masuoka said:
“Based on the original strength of the all-new Triton, the handling
performance, stability on rough roads, and ride comfort are further improved as
a rally competition car. In addition, the turbocharger has been improved to
increase engine response throughout the entire rally range from low to high
rpm, resulting in a powerful rally car that can handle any road conditions”.
Between June 19 and June 23, each of the
three prototypes completed around 800 km of off-road endurance
testing near the Khao Yai National Park in Thailand. The fact that there were
no major issues brought extra confidence to the defending champions about a
possible second consecutive win. Mitsubishi engineers will provide technical
support in the trio of Triton Group T1 prototype pickups which will be driven
by Chayapon Yotha (Thailand), Rifat Sungkar (Indonesia), and Katsuhiko Taguchi
(Japan). The Asia Cross Country Rally 2023 will take place between August 13
and 19 during the rainy season. Drivers will cover a distance of around 2,000
km including over 1,000 km of special stages, going
through mountains, forests, muddy roads, river crossings, etc. in regions of
Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia.
