While Mitsubishi’s performance in last year’s Asia Cross Country Rally was anything but dismal, it certainly wasn’t good enough to take the top spot. At the time, the all-new Triton had just been launched, so teething problems were an unfortunate reality. But for the 2024 edition of the AXCR, the Japanese automaker is out to prove that its truck truly has the right stuff.
No fewer than four rally-prepped units will be competing for the top spot. Mitsubishi has determined that the Triton needs to keep up with larger-displacement rivals on high-speed stages. To that end, the trucks will sport modifications such as beefed-up transmissions, rear coil springs, and wider-tread tires in a bid to increase traction and stability on loose surfaces.
Just like in previous seasons, two-time Dakar Rally champion Hiroshi Masuoka will be calling the shots. Last year’s third-place finish has proven that the latest Triton has plenty of potential, and the upgrades to the fleet might just be enough for Mitsubishi to claim the title once again.
The four Triton rally trucks will be manned by the following drivers and co-drivers:
- Chayapon Yotha and Peerapong Sombutwong
- Katsuhiko Taguchi and Takahiro Yasui
- Sakchai Hantrakul and Jumpol Doungthip
- Kazuto Koide and Eiji Chiba
The Asia Cross Country Rally 2024 will kick off on August 11 in Surat Thani in the southern part of Thailand. It will cover around 2,400km divided into six legs. The event will be concluded on August 17 in Kanchanaburi, a town 130km west of the capital Bangkok.
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