Crew 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 crew 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 guide 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 automobiles 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 not make up the rear suspension because the truck now makes use of inflexible four-link coil springs, which is meant to assist the automobile higher soak up hits on grime roads.
Different components stay unchanged corresponding to the general dimensions of 5.32 m lengthy by 1.995 m huge 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 yr, we tried for a second consecutive victory with the all-new Triton, which had simply gone on sale, however we have been unable to carry out its full potential, ending in third place,” stated crew director and two-time Dakar winner Hiroshi Masuoka. “With this yr’s Triton, we’ve got made main enhancements primarily to driving efficiency and tough street dealing with, additional enhancing our four-vehicle crew as we intention to reclaim our place as champions.
“At Mitsubishi Motors, we leverage our expertise in grueling motorsports for automobile improvement, so I hope to cross on this custom to the following era.”
Yotha completed third total 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 may even signify Thailand of their house nation. Two extra Tritons can 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 yr whereas Koide is a newcomer to the crew however has labored as a Mitsubishi check driver since 1998.
The 2024 AXCR will happen on 12–17 August.
