Going for gold!

Team Mitsubishi --CONTRIBUTED

SURAT THANI, Thailand–Mitsubishi Motors Corporation is ever-adamant in bringing back its dominance in the world of motorsports, particularly in rally racing. For one, it’s set to bring back its glory days as it aspires to capture another crown at the ongoing Asia Cross Country Rally (AXCR) in Thailand.

For the uninitiated, the Japanese carmaker traces its roots in motorsports glory with its first-ever win in the global stage in the Macau Grand Prix in 1962, 1970 then saw the five-time Grand Prix-winning Colt F Series; notably, in 1983, the Mitsubishi Pajero made history by capturing the Triple Crown in its Paris-Dakar Rally debut. This winning streak then continued on to 2007 with Mitsubishi setting a record for seven straight Paris-Dakar rally wins, totaling to 12 championship crowns overall.

However, in 2009, due to complications and other financial setbacks, the Ralliart brand went on hiatus. It was not only recently in 2021 that the carmaker again pursued into revive its motorsports brand.

For the longest time, Mitsubishi has been making a name for itself in parts of Europe and the Middle East. This time–however–it’s bringing it much closer to home with its participation in the AXCR, Asia’s biggest cross country rally. For 29 years, this rally has covered various types of terrain, from jungles, swamps, river-crossings, desert and any other obstacle nature throws its way. Here, the competition tests the participants’ driving and navigation skill, endurance and teamwork, as well as the team’s preparation, durability and toughness. The grueling competitions would cover six to nine days of about 2,000 to 4,000 km of unforgivable terrain.

In fact, in its AXCR debut in 2022, Team Mitsubishi Ralliart, spearheaded by its director, multiple Dakar Rally champion, Hiroshi Masuoka, was able to capture the overall crown. The following year, the team finished third overall.

“Last year, we confirmed the toughness and durability of the all-new Triton in the grueling conditions of AXCR 2023,” said Masuoka.

“The rally also reaffirmed that the Triton’s strengths lie in its sporty handling and its excellent road handling on rough terrain,” he added.

According to him, this year will be their second year competing onboard the new-generation Triton. They have made the vehicle more powerful, enhancing its driving performance by widening the tread further so that they’re better prepared in standing shoulder-to-shoulder with other competing vehicles with high-displacement engines.

“Team Mitsubishi Ralliart is taking on the crown, and we look forward to your support,” the former Dakar Rally champion averred.

The Redeem team

Team Mitsubishi Ralliart is owned by Tant Sport (Thailand) and as with last year, bannering the team are driver and co-driver Chayapon Yotha (Thailand) and Peerapong Sombutwong (Thailand), respectively, who won two years ago. They are joined by the Japanese duo of Katsuhiko Taguchi and Takahiro Yasui, who finished in eighth last year, the highest of any team of Japanese drivers that time. Taguchi won the Rally Japan in Group N and has also competed overseas, winning the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) twice.

Other drivers are Sakchai Hantrakul (Thailand) and Jumpol Doungthip (Thailand), who are highly-experienced rally drivers with a deep knowledge of Mitsubishi vehicles. Also in the pool are Mitsubishi Motors’ test driver Kazuto Koide (Japan), and co-driver Eiji Chiba (Japan), who achieved a podium finish in the 2023 AXCR. Together, the team is tooth and nail gunning for glory to again reclaim the overall championship crown with the T1 prototype, a modified cross-country model, of the all-new Triton.

The Redeem New-Gen Triton pickup

As for the new-generation Triton pickup being used this year, the team was able to further improve its driving performance. Now, it’s better equipped to compete against vehicles with high-displacement engines in high-speed stages. Hence, a new racing transmission with a high torque capacity has also been selected to improve both durability and maneuverability. The tread size has also been increased, and the rear suspension has been switched from rigid/leaf springs to rigid/four-link coil springs, allowing the vehicle to absorb major shocks on rough roads and improve its traction on extremely tough road surfaces.

Here are some vehicle specifications to look into: overall length x overall width–5,320 mm x 1,995 mm; wheelbase–3,130 mm; tread (front/rear)–1,730 mm; engine–4N16 (intercooled turbocharger); fuel injector–high-pressure common-rail direct injection diesel; displacement–2,439 cc; turbocharger–Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engine and Turbocharger; maximum output–150 kW or more; maximum torque–470N-m or more; exhaust system–HKS AXCR 2024 competition model; transmission–six-speed sequential transmission

Moty’s gear oil; 4WD system–full-time 4WD; differential–CUSCO front and rear LSD; front suspension–independent double-wishbone with coil springs; rear suspension–rigid/4-link coil spring; shock absorbers–CUSCO adjustable front and rear twin dampers; bump stops–hydraulic; steering–rack and pinion with power assist; brakes–ENDLESS ventilated discs with monoblock brake calipers and pads, FORTEC racing brake fluid; wheels–WORK aluminum alloy wheels (17-inch x 7J); carbon fiber front fenders; carbon fiber front and rear door panels and carbon fiber cargo outer panel.

“With this year’s Triton, we have made major improvements primarily to driving performance and rough road handling, further enhancing our four-vehicle team as we aim to reclaim our position as champions,” further shared Masuoka.

“At Mitsubishi Motors, we leverage our experience in grueling motor sports for vehicle development, so I hope to pass on this tradition to the next generation.”

Grueling 6-day 6-leg race course

For the 29th edition of the competitions this year, a total of 67 vehicles get to see action– 46 in the auto category, 19 in the motorcycle category, and two in the sidecar category. The ceremonial kickoff transpired last Sunday (August 11) at Surat Thani on the coast of the Gulf of Thailand in the southern part of the country. Race proper then began with Leg 1 the following day. Leg 2, as of this writing, is the longest and most challenging section of the whole competition, composed of dirt rock debris, traversing from Surat Thani to Hua Hin. Leg 3, meanwhile, is a fast course on flat dirt around Hua Hin. Leg 4 moves to Kanchanaburi, on an undulating track through mountainous terrain. Next, Leg 5 will run through plantations, with flat terrain but limited visibility. While Leg 6 will commence at the panoramic Skywalk Kanchanaburi, a glass-sided bridge emerging as the country’s new tourist attraction.

Leg 1 provisional top results

For Leg 1 (Monday), the four-wheel category saw teams from Toyota Gazoo Racing Thailand topping the course in their Hilux. The duo of Thais Mana Pornsiricherd and Kittisak Klinchan took the lead with a time of 1 hour and 26 minutes.

In second was the Isuzu Suphan Explorer Liqui Moly Rally Team tandem of Thongchai Klinkate and Banpoth Ampornmaha, who are likewise both from Thailand, finishing two minutes behind.

Lastly, in third place was the Mitsubishi Triton of Team Mitsubishi Ralliart of Yotha and Sombutwong, who were, meanwhile, three minutes behind the leader.

Another Triton vehicle was close behind in fifth place. It was driven by Team Mitsubishi Ralliart’s Hantrakul and Doungthip.

As of this writing, Leg 2 is just about to commence its finishing stages.

So far, Team Mitsubishi Ralliart has been meticulously consistent and is still in the running to capture the crown.