Team Mitsubishi Ralliart has revealed a Triton-based rally car for the 2022 Asia Cross Country Rally (AXCR), marking the Japanese brand’s return to motorsport via technical support and expertise.
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation will assist Team Ralliart, a private racing team owned by Thai-based Tant Sports, and says it will “leverage the feedback earned through this rally competition to further hone its strengths, especially in terms of body and chassis rigidity, vehicle control and off-road performance”.
While the company has yet to detail what constitutes a “tricked-up” rally-ready Triton, we can see from the supplied press imagery that the motorsport ute gets a suspension lift, all-terrain tyres and a snorkel.
There are also extra recovery points at the rear, two spare tyres in the tray, Bride-branded race buckets and a roll cage.
Obviously, this rally car sports an eye-catching livery to show off Team Mitsubishi Ralliart’s colours, with bright red accents contrasted with grey and black bits throughout.
It’s unclear whether the ‘Tricked-up Triton’ has received any engine or other mechanical modifications. The standard production version runs a 133kW/430Nm 2.4-litre turbo-diesel teamed with either a six-speed manual or six-speed auto.
The 2022 AXCR is scheduled over 6-12 August, 2022, and is an FIA-certified cross-country rally event set predominantly in Thailand over “gruelling off-road courses in the mountains and jungles that test vehicles and crews to their limits”.
“Mitsubishi Motors’ participation in the AXCR in the form of technical support will strengthen our product uniqueness, especially for ASEAN strategic models including pickup truck and SUVs,” said Hiroshi Masuoka, Team Mitsubishi Ralliart’s director and two-time Dakar Rally champion.
“For many years, Mitsubishi Motors competed in the World Rally Championship and the Dakar Rally, winning championships in both of them and improving the driving performance of Mitsubishi cars that can be enjoyed with peace of mind in any weather or road conditions.
“Team Mitsubishi Ralliart will make preparations to meet the expectations of our fans, so please stay tuned.”
Mitsubishi and Masuoka’s comments indicate the Japanese brand will use learnings from this motorsport venture to influence future product – perhaps a Triton-based Ford Ranger Raptor rival could be on the cards?
With that said, the company’s local division recently ruled out Ralliart-branded appearance packages for the Triton and Pajero Sport that were revealed for the Thai market, where both vehicles are produced.
We expect more details of the Ralliart Triton rally car to be revealed in the lead-up to the 2022 Asia Cross Country Rally.
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