Fresh off its global debut, the all-new Mitsubishi Triton isn’t waiting around to be invited to the party. Instead, the pick-up will dive straight into the action at the Asia Cross Country Rally (AXCR) that’s officially started today.

Team Mitsubishi RalliArt will be fielding 3 Tritons to take on what’s best described as one of the most gruelling rallies this side of the planet.

Leading the charge will be defending champions Chaiphon Yotha and Piraphong Sombatawong in the number 101 Triton, followed by Rifat Sungkar and Chupong Chaiwan in the No. 106 machine and Katsuhiko Takushi and Takahiro Yasui in the No. 112 machine.

The team 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.

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However, of course the Tritons have been modified to be rally-ready and were fitted with 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. It’s paired to a 6-speed manual transmission that drives all 4 wheels via the Super Select 4WD-II system.

Every rally hero needs a reliable support vehicle to help it through the over 2,000 km of the rally and the Triton trio can count on 4 units of the Mitsubishi Delica D:5 van. 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.

Today marks Day 0 of the 28th Asia Cross Country Rally (AXCR) that’ll see participants race from Thailand, to Laos, ending on 19 August 2023. From Thailand, participants will cross the border into Laos and will then continue on a loop course for 2 days, starting at a hotel in Pakse, Laos, and finishing at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Prasat Wat Phou on the final day.

This year’s run will carry a lot more sentimental value for participants as it’s the first complete running of the rally since Covid-19. Last year, the event was held on a shortened schedule that did not include travel.

We wish Mitsubishi all the best in defending its title.