Looking to defend its championship title from last year, Team Mitsubishi Ralliart will be competing in the upcoming Asia Cross Country Rally (AXCR) 2023 in a rally-prepped version of the newly launched sixth-generation 2024 Mitsubishi Triton.

Team Mitsubishi Ralliart will be competing in 3 new Triton Group T1s (prototype cross-country vehicles). The Triton rally cars are based on the Thai-spec double cab model, modified in accordance with the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) Group T1 restrictions for modified cross-country vehicles.

Modifications added to the rally-ready beast include a roll cage, bumper guard, carbon fibre parts, rally-specific front and rear suspension, lightweight aluminium wheels, as well as front and rear LSD. The engine though remains mostly unchanged which is the newly developed 4N16 2.4-litre 4-cylinder MIVEC turbodiesel that makes 204 PS and 470 Nm.

Also read: Ranger has 3, Hilux has 2, why does the 2024 Mitsubishi Triton come with only 1 engine?

That engine is paired with a 6-speed manual transmission that drives all 4 wheels via the Super Select 4WD-II system.

The team will be fielded by drivers Chayapon Yotha who won the AXCR driver’s title in 2022, Rifat Sungkar, and Katsuhiko Taguchi with co-driver, Peerapong Sombutwong, Chupong Chaiwan, and Takahiro Yasui respectively.

Also read: Not just for show, watch this rally-bred Mitsubishi Xpander drift around a course in Indonesia

Every rally hero needs a reliable support vehicle during those gruelling stages and partnering the Triton rally truck is a Mitsubishi Delica D:5. Celebrating 55 years of the Delica which was once sold in Malaysia in both regular commercial van and the Space Gear MPV, Mitsubishi Motors will provide 4 Delica D:5 support cars to assist the team.

Also read: As the Honda Jazz leaves, we check out 12 legendary models that were once popular in Malaysia

The Delica D:5 support MPV is standard from the road-going version which comes with a strong rib bone frame and an electronically controlled 4WD system. It is truly an adventure-ready MPV right from the get-go.

The support cars have been customised to be able to drive through the entire rally by equipping Work aluminium wheels, Yokohama off-road tyres, and JAOS front and rear suspensions.

The AXCR 2023 will be held from Thailand to Laos in August. Can Mitsubishi retain its title for the second time in a row?

Also read: Mitsubishi Triton finishes 1st in maiden Asia Cross Country Rally 2022