Team Mitsubishi Ralliart’s Triton recently participated in the Asia Cross Country Rally from November 21-26 in Thailand and Cambodia. With an overall distance of 1,524 kilometers, driver Rifat Sungkar (Indonesia) finished in fifth position, with 17 minutes and 14 seconds behind the leader. An incredible feat in a Group T1 prototype cross-country vehicle!
AXCR 2022 is the first after a three year absence, beginning in Buriram, Thailand where the first SS of the rally and a ceremonial start were held. Leg 1 on the 22nd to Leg 3 on the 24th included SS located in the area around Buriram. Leg 4 on the 25th saw the rally cross the border into Cambodia after finishing the SS around Buriram, while Leg 5 on the 26th ended at the spectacular ceremonial goal near Angkor Wat, the famed tourist attraction in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Thailand consisted mainly of high-speed stages on rough, dry unpaved roads, while driving through Cambodia saw a more challenging terrain with large, deep puddles scattered on muddy roads caused by heavy rain, and a tougher course compared to the previous five stages.
The #105 Triton, with driver Chayapon Yotha, finished fifth in SS1 on the first day. On the second day, he set the fastest time in SS2, the longest SS of this year’s AXCR with a 203 km course, and climbed to the top overall position. After that, the powerful driving performance and nimble handling of the Triton helped him to finish SS3 in seventh, SS4 in sixth, SS5 in fifth, and SS6 in fifth, and he maintained the lead he had established in SS2 to take the overall win.
#118 finished SS1 in sixth place, with driver Rifat Sungkar. Aiming for higher positions, but after suffering a flat tire and subsequent damages to the chassis in SS2, Sungkar dropped to eighth position. The team’s repair work allowed him to continue the rally the next day, and he finished fourth in SS3, fifth in SS4, fourth in SS5, and seventh in SS6, completing the rally in fifth overall while proving the toughness of the Triton.
Sakchai Hantrakul in car #119 tested positive for Covid-19 after SS1 and unfortunately had to retire from the rally.
Connect with us
