Mitsubishi has a long and storied racing heritage that includes vehicles like the Gallant, Lancer, Pajero and Montero, just to name a few. Under the Ralliart subsidiary, successfully competes in the World Rally Championship and the Dakar Rally. That’s why when the company added a series of vintage rally videos to its YouTube channel this week, it was like finding a treasure trove for fans of the three-diamond company.
The video covers 40 years of Mitsubishi and Ralliart off-road racing. Starting with the original Colt in 1967, you can watch highlights of the WRC and the Dakar rally, events that Mitsubishi won time and time again, making the company a force to be reckoned with. In all, there are 28 videos that are around 20 to 30 seconds long. Each video features a montage of a specific event, focused on a single car or team.
As well as being a great way to spend a half hour, the videos are made to whet the appetite of Mitsubishi motorsport fans. Ralliart was inactive after the 2009 season when campaigning for the Lancer and Pajero. The combination of a global recession and a lack of funds put a damper on Mitsubishi’s racing program. Then two years ago, Mitsubishi announced it would revive its racing program and would bring back the Ralliart name.
Last fall, Mitsubishi returned to rallying with the Triton Ralliart racer. Led by back-to-back Dakar champion Hiroshi Masuoka, Triton Ralliart is participating in the 2022 Asia Cross-Country Rally, which features stages in Thailand and Cambodia. The Ralliart team finished first and fifth overall, adding a new chapter in Mitsubishi’s history.
Mitsubishi has also revived the Ralliart name in the US by creating special editions of the Outlander, Outlander PHEV, Eclipse Cross, Outlander Sport and Mirage for the 2023 model year. Each vehicle is available with White Diamond paint, a contrasting black roof, a special graphics package and other touches. rally inspired. The company hopes the special edition vehicles and the revival of the Ralliart name will help generate more interest in the brand for the US market. In 2021 Mitsubishi sold 102,037 models in the US, with the Outlander making up a third of those sales.
