Team Mitsubishi Ralliart was aiming to win the Asia Cross Country Rally 2023 (AXCR2023) a second time this year, especially since they were running the all-new Mitsubishi Triton. But they did not manage to do so and their best position was third overall. Nevertheless, all three vehicles completed the rally and won the Team Award.
“Unfortunately, we did not win the event for the second year in a row, but we were able to complete the rally with all three Tritons without losing a single car, using almost the same specifications as mass-produced vehicles and using parts from production models, which convinced us that our direction in car manufacturing was on the right track,” said Hiroshi Masuoka, Team Director of Team Mitsubishi Ralliart.
“We were also able to gain technical feedback that we should reflect on production vehicles, as well as issues on how to improve the competitiveness of our rallycars, making this a very meaningful event,” added Masuoka, who has won the tough Dakar Rally twice in earlier years.
The ACXR 2023 was held in Thailand and Laos and the route had a total distance of around 2,033 kms, including 973.98 kms of Special Stages. The actual distance was shortened due to course changes.
According to Masuoka, the course this year was a gruelling one. “There was intense heat and almost no rain despite the rainy season, as well as high-speed driving over some of the toughest road conditions in recent years,” he said.
“Team Mitsubishi Ralliart entered this rally with the all-new Triton, which had undergone a full model change and had evolved in all aspects. Although we had to build the rally vehicles in a short period of time as it had just been launched, we were able to demonstrate its performance in many areas and came in 3rd place overall,” he said.
Click here to read more about the new Mitsubishi Triton.
While it was a second time in the AXCR for two of the drivers – Chayapon Yotha (last year’s winner) and Rifat Sungkar – it was the first time for the third driver, Katsuhiko Taguchi. An experienced rally driver, Taguchi was able to take advantage of the precise handling and speed of the new Triton and set the fastest time in the very first Special Stage.
However, he was not able to increase his pace due to a rival in trouble blocking his way.
He was also troubled by the complicated branching jungle roads, and finished his first AXCR challenge in 8th place overall.
Nevertheless, his good times still contributed to Team Mitsubishi Ralliart winning the Team Award. This award is given to the team with two or more entries that has all its entries complete the rally, and is based on the total time of the best two finishers.
To know more about Mitsubishi vehicles in Malaysia, visit www.mitsubishi-motors.com.my.