Mitsubishi's Xpander Rally Team (XRT) ready to test its challenger

The Covid-19 Pandemic has caused several national racing schedules in Indonesia to be delayed, one of which was the Indonesian Rally National Championship. The Sprint National Championship and Speed ​​Rally should've started in March.

Predictably, all motorsport activities in Indonesia in 2020 has been canceled. This was decided considering the Covid-19 pandemic in Indonesia shows no signs of abating. However, the Indonesian Motoring Association (IMI) has started to allow Provincial Championships, Club Events and testing with strict SOPs.

One of the racing teams disrupted by this situation is Mistubishi's Xpander Rally Team (XRT). But given the current conditions, they accept and understand the decision of the authorities.

"Certainly we are disappointed because we can't compete in the National Championship rally this year, because we have made various preparations, especially the development of our race vehicle the Mitsubishi Xpander AP4," said Julian Johan (Jeje), XRT team manager.

"But as a professional team, we cannot wallow in disappointment, instead these conditions provide an opportunity to better prepare ourselves to face 2021," continued Jeje.

According to Jeje the XRT team remained enthusiastic and focused in the preparation and development of the team. And in the near future the Mitsubishi Xpander AP4 will undergo testing on the rally track, both gravel and asphalt.

"Hopefully this preparations of the XRT team can add to the motivation of the other teams to stay focused in facing the national rally next year," concluded Jeje.

Meanwhile Rifat Sungkar, XRT's race driver who is also one of the founders of the team, hoped that the National Championship in 2020 can continue. But he realized that the Covid-19 pandemic in Indonesia had not yet subsided.

"The FIA ​​has held F1 races again, but the recovery in Indonesia is taking longer, considering that Indonesia was hit by the pandemic a few months after Covid-19 broke out in other countries," he said.

"The Mitsubishi Xpander AP4 has actually been ready since the beginning of the year but has not yet had the opportunity to get off the track. "Of course I am excited to put the Xpander AP4 through it paces," said Rifat.

Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia is expected to launch the Xpander in Malaysia before the year ends, so watch this space!