Outlander PHEV and Triton continue to forge a path through a field of competitors in the harsh WA outback.
‘Seven tough days’ is a phrase that was thrown around a lot in the lead up to this year’s Australasian Safari. In their first experience challenging the famous race, Team Mitsubishi Ralliart Australia (TMR Australia) have learned a lot about what tough really means when you are racing in the outback.
Many experienced challengers are succumbing to a constant attrition of parts; with the latter legs of the race stretching across brutal sections of desert.
Inside the cars, the organic components of the vehicles; drivers and navigators, are beginning to show the strain of seven days in rough conditions that are unforgiving on bodies beaten into submission for hours at a time.
The heat, intense navigational strain and thousands of kilometres of difficult terrain are taking their toll, as the race changes from a battle of machinery to a battle of mental fortitude.
While the field struggles on, TMR steadily and strategically climbs the outright ladder. The M55 has continued to see the TMR Australia cars through the long stages with a minimum of fuss. The same cannot be said for the entire field of competitors.
Placed 9th outright at the end of Leg Four, the TMR Outlander PHEV has dropped back to 17th in the fifth leg, continuing to lead its class.
TMR Australia co-ordinator Robert Chadwick explains that the only thing more surprising to TMR Australia more than the sheer brutality of the conditions is the PHEV and Triton’s ability to power through them with relative ease.
“It is continually shocking us how aggressive the conditions are out there. Our tyre attrition rate has been lower than anyone else. The drivers are very happy and faring well, but they are as amazed at the length and severity of the stages everyday as we are.”
We have had a great run so far and looking forward to finishing off the race and establishing the vehicles credentials. Our primary aim is finishing the event, and we made strategic move to make sure the cars were going to be super reliable to see us home on the journey south into Kalbarri.”
“The Mitsubishi engineers are transmitting volumes of unique data back from the PHEV back to Japan, every night. The car just hasn’t been tested before in these super-hot conditions. They are extremely happy and very impressed with the team and very excited about the performance of the PHEV.”
As Safari continues to expose weak spots for other teams, TMR is charging across the desert to this evenings bivouac in Carnarvon. As the front running hares race to the line, tomorrow’s dash from Carnarvon to Kalbarri may have some surprises in store yet.
