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.
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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 (500 miles) 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 (1,243 miles) including over 1,000 km (621 miles) of special stages, going through mountains, forests, muddy roads, river crossings, etc. in regions of Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia.
