Team Mitsubishi Ralliart looks at snatching 2nd straight AXCR title with Triton

MANILA: Team Mitsubishi Ralliart expressed its readiness to grab its second straight title for this year’s Asia Cross Country Rally (AXCR), slated August 9-15 in Thailand.

In a statement, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) shared that the competing team will field three Triton pickup trucks in the six-day challenge, which will cover around 2,000 kilometers of demanding terrain starting in Pattaya, going to Prachinburi, Nakhon Sawan, Kamphaeng, before concluding in Phitsanulok.

In a statement, the Japanese automaker said that the team further unlocked the Triton’s potential and improved its dynamic performance—noting that the powertrain position and engine response were adjusted and the suspension system fine-tuned.

The Team Mitsubishi Ralliart executives are:

• Team Director: Hiroshi Masuoka (Mitsubishi Motors)
• Team Principal: Chayut Yangpichit (Tant Sport)
• Technical Director: Kopong Amatayakul (Tant Sport)

Manning the three Mitsubishi Triton race cars are:

Driver	Co-driver
Chayaphon Yotha (Thailand)	Peerapong Sombutwong (Thailand
Katsuhiko Taguchi (Japan)	Takahiro Yasui (Japan)
Kazuto Koide	Eiji Chiba (Japan)

Vehicle specifications

The rally cars that the Yotha-Sombutwong duo as well as Taguchi-Yasui tandem are shorter yet wider than the one that Koide and Chiba will maneuver in the competition.

Amid these differences, all three are powered by the same high-pressure common rail direct inject 4N16 four-cylinder, 2.5-liter, turbocharged diesel-fed engine paired to a six-speed gearbox (either sequential or automatic transmission type). This powertrain has the capacity to deliver around 215 horsepower (hp) and 500 Newton-meters (Nm) of torque.

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Check out the notable pieces of information about the Mitsubishi Triton vehicles competing in the upcoming event.

	Yotha/Sombutwong Car Taguchi/Yasui Car	Koide/Chiba Car
Total length x total width (in millimeters)	4,920 × 1,995	5,070 × 1,865
Wheelbase (in mm)	3,130
Tread (in mm)	1,730	1,570
Engine	4N16 (4-cylinder turbo diesel)
Fuel injector	High-pressure common rail
Displacement	2,439 cc
Turbocharger	Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engine & Turbocharger VG turbocharger
Maximum output (in hp)	214.5 or more
Maximum torque (in Nm)	500 or more
Exhaust system	HKS AXCR Competition Model
Transmission	Six-speed sequential transmission Moty’s gear oil Ogura Clutch reinforced clutch	Six-speed automatic transmission
4WD system	Full-time 4WD	Super Select 4WD-II
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 Crag T‑Grabic II MC + aluminum alloy wheels (17-inch x 7J)
Tires	Yokohama Geolander M/T G003 (245/75R17)
Other features	Carbon fiber: engine hood, front fenders, front and rear door panels, cargo outer panel	Carbon fiber: engine hood, rear door panels, cargo outer panels

"The AXCR, where vehicles must run at high speed over a diverse and grueling course, the load imposed on the vehicle body by road impact is said to be, in some cases, more than thirty times greater than in normal customer driving," Masuoka was quoted as saying.

He also said that the technical information gained through their previous participations in the AXCR for the past four years not only improved the competitiveness of their rally cars but also provided valuable insight for strengthening the appeal of our production vehicles.”

“These learnings have been applied not only to the Triton, but also to the all-new Pajero, which will make its world premiere this autumn. Through vehicle development honed through rally activities, Mitsubishi Motors will continue to deliver distinctive and compelling products that reflect Mitsubishi Motors’ identity," he noted.

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