Workforce Mitsubishi Ralliart struggled to maintain up with the rival Toyota Fortuners on the 2023 Asia Cross Nation Rally, stopping them from repeating their victory with Chayapon Yotha. For 2024, the group will improve their Mitsubishi Triton to higher face up to Thailand’s components to bounce again.
The 2024 Triton incorporates a new six-speed sequential transmission, in contrast to the handbook of the earlier mannequin. The tread measurement has been elevated from 1,570 millimetres on the entrance and 1,565 mm on the rear to 1,730 mm on each side. Though each the 2023 and 2024 vehicles have the identical 4N16 intercooled turbocharged engine and surrounding system, it has barely much less displacement at 2,439 cubic centimetres, decrease by three. The four-wheel-drive system is upgraded from Mitsubishi’s Tremendous-Choose II 4WD System to a full-time 4WD. Inflexible leaf springs now not make up the rear suspension because the truck now makes use of inflexible four-link coil springs, which is meant to assist the car higher take up hits on filth roads.
Different components stay unchanged resembling the general dimensions of 5.32 m lengthy by 1.995 m extensive with a 3,130 mm wheelbase. ENDLESS is offering ventilated brake discs with monoblock calipers and pads, working alongside the seventeen-inch wheels from WORK and Yokohama’s GEOLANDAR M/T G003 tyres.
The truck underwent roughly 800 kilometres of testing at Khao Yai Nationwide Park in late June.
“Final 12 months, we tried for a second consecutive victory with the all-new Triton, which had simply gone on sale, however we had been unable to carry out its full potential, ending in third place,” mentioned group director and two-time Dakar winner Hiroshi Masuoka. “With this 12 months’s Triton, we’ve got made main enhancements primarily to driving efficiency and tough highway dealing with, additional enhancing our four-vehicle group as we purpose to reclaim our place as champions.
“At Mitsubishi Motors, we leverage our expertise in grueling motorsports for car improvement, so I hope to cross on this custom to the following technology.”
Yotha completed third general in 2023 behind the Toyotas of Takuma Aoki and Tubagus Moerinsyahdl, and can have Peerapong Sombutwong as his co-driver. Dakar Rally veteran Sakchai Hantrakul and Jumpol Doungthip can even signify Thailand of their dwelling nation. Two extra Tritons will probably be fielded for Japan’s Katsuhiko Taguchi and Kazuto Koide, respectively with Takahiro Yasui and Eiji Chiba as their navigators. Taguchi is a World Rally Championship veteran who made his AXCR début final 12 months whereas Koide is a newcomer to the group however has labored as a Mitsubishi take a look at driver since 1998.
The 2024 AXCR will happen on 12–17 August.