MOTORSPORT: Mitsubishi Triton joins SuperUtes

The upgraded 2019 Mitsubishi Triton will contest this year’s SuperUte Series, which opens this weekend at the Superloop Adelaide 500.

The expanded three-car assault by Team Triton, which marks the second factory SuperUte entry after the Isuzu D-MAX squad announced last week, includes a third MR Triton to be raced by Elliot Barbour and Cameron Crick, with dual Dakar Rally champion Toby Price also driving for the team in selected rounds.

While Holden has tipped some support for the Colorados contesting the fledgling dual-cab diesel ute racing category — and both Ford and Ssangyong are also understood to be contemplating more substantial commitments — the Mitsubishi and Isuzu entries are factory-backed efforts.

Other brands already represented by private SuperUte teams include Toyota (HiLux), Ford (Ranger) and Mazda (BT-50).

“The whole team did a fantastic job last season and this year we have Toby Price racing again at selected events,” said Mitsubishi Australia’s deputy director of sales, Tim Hore.

“We have added an additional Triton this year for Toby and Craig Dontas to share the racing in this year’s series.

“We also have two very talented full-time drivers in Elliot Barbour and Cameron Crick who are more than capable of taking a place on the podium,” said Hore.

Team Triton's two full-time cars will be driven by Elliot Barbour in the #78 Mitsubishi Motors Triton and Cameron Crick in the #7 Total Tools Triton.

Mitsubishi Ambassador Toby Price has signed on to contest selected rounds this year in the #87 Triton but due to injuries sustained prior to his winning ride at the 2019 Dakar Rally, he is unable to compete at this weekend’s Supercars championship opener.

Taking his place in the event at the Adelaide 500 will be Craig Dontas, who drove in several SuperUte rounds last year.

"I'm really sad that I couldn't get behind the wheel at the Adelaide 500 with Team Triton this year, but I need to focus on my recovery and will be back in the driver's seat later this year,” said Price.

“Although I won't be on track, I'm looking forward to joining the Mitsubishi crew in Adelaide to watch the races on Sunday.”

The full factory backing of Team Triton by Mitsubishi Motors Australia arrives at the same time as improvements for the 2019 SuperUte series, including new race tyres, lower ride heights, more performance and louder exhausts.

SuperUtes will continue to race alongside the Australian Supercars championship over eight rounds of the 2019 series.

Adelaide SuperLoop (Feb 28-March)
Perth Supernight (May 2-4)
Winton Supersprint (May 24-26)
Watpac Townsville 400 (July 5-7)
Coates Hire Ipswich Supersprint (July 26-28)
Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 (October 10-13)
Vodafone Gold Coast 500 (October 25-27)
Coates Hire Newcastle 500 (November 22-24)