Ralliart is a name synonymous with Mitsubishi Motors’ epic motorsports heritage. Its exploits on gravel, tarmac, snow, sand, and a trail mix of everything began in the 1970s and continues today.

In its latest video, Mitsubishi interviewed engineers from its humble beginnings in the World Rally Championship (WRC) to the present team behind the successful Asia Cross Country Rally (AXCR) outfit.

Mitsubishi’s rise in international rallies started 50 years ago when Kenyan Joginder Singh took part in the 1973 Safari Rally as a privateer. He piloted a Galant 16L GS but the first success to Mitsubishi’s rally team came in October that same year when 4 of the 5 Lancer 1600 GSRs took home the top 4 finish of the Southern Cross Rally.

That win was what sparked one of the engineers to join Mitsubishi’s motorsports division and in the 1980s, the team saw a lot of advancements with the turbocharged Lancer EX and Starion rally cars.

It wasn’t until the first Lancer Evolution took part in the WRC in 1993 that the team would achieve legendary status culminating in a manufacturer’s title in 1998.

Also read: Proton Putra WRC - The Malaysian rally prince with lots of potential

However, it was in the gruelling Dakar rally where Mitsubishi and Ralliart truly dominated the sport with an unbreakable 12-win record between 1982 and 2007. Even though Mitsubishi pulled out from the sport, the Three Diamonds are still fondly associated with one of the toughest and most dangerous cross-continental rallies in the world.

Also read: The first Mitsubishi Pajero - from Paris Dakar Rally champ to progenitor of family SUVs

While most have heard of Ralliart’s success in WRC and Dakar, there were other challenging races in which the team competed. Some aided with the development and pushed the capabilities of new technologies.

Ralliart took part in the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb as a way to demonstrate how capable an electric-powered race car could reach one of the most challenging hill climb races in the world. The 2013 race also allowed Mitsubishi to showcase Active Yaw Control (AYC) in a fully electric set-up.

Two years later in 2015, Ralliart competed in the Baja Portalegre 500 in a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV rally car. Mechanically similar to the road-going model, the plug-in hybrid rally car finished third place on the first day.

That first day's result grabbed everyone’s attention who initially dismissed the PHEV as incapable of completing a tough rally course. Even though the team dropped in its position as the days went by, it managed to complete the race, proving the capabilities of electrified vehicles in tough rally courses.

The lessons and technology gained from past Ralliart-liveried legends continue with the Mitsubishi Triton. The pick-up truck demonstrated its nimbleness by winning the inaugural season of AXCR in 2022.

The team will continue to take part in AXCR 2024 with the all-new Triton which begins in August hoping to retake the title after finishing last season in third place.

Even though the circumstances are different now than before, past engineers still pass down their knowledge of the sport to the next generation to continue lighting the torch of Ralliart. Whether it’s in WRC, Dakar or AXCR, the spirit of Mitsubishi’s motorsport legacy continues.

Closer to home, Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) is expected to launch a new generation of the 2024 Mitsubishi Triton very soon. As indicated by the developments in Japan and Thailand, the all-new Triton will likely see an increase in price, probably around 11 percent more expensive.

The outgoing generation Triton is only on offer with up to RM 11k in rebates. There’s a RM 7k cash rebate + RM 2k Duit Raya, and 2-year free service. Civil servants and existing Mitsubishi owners will get an additional RM 1k and RM 2k rebate respectively. For more on this promo, click here.