Mitsubishi wins eighth Australian Off-Road title
October 21, 2008 by Matt Brogan
Mitsubishi Pajero has finished 1-2 to again take the Production Title of the grueling Australian Off-Road Championship which finished in Goondiwindi yesterday.
It’s the eighth time in a row Mitsubishi has secured the prestigious title and is one win champions Geoff Pickering and Mark Henderson are sure to enjoy for many months to come as they recount their climb to the pinnacle of the Australian Off Road Championship in their V6 Pajero.
“We came here to Goondiwindi with the title already in the bag having wrapped that up at the previous round in Millicent”, said Pickering, “but the Championship is more than simply one round, is a season long battle around the country which starts in Western Australian at Easter each year and wraps up seven months later here in outback Queensland.”
Pickering and Henderson didn’t have it all their own way as the year progressed with several Mitsubishis featuring high on the results board. In particular young gun Clayton Chapman shone through as the driver most likely to challenge Pickering in the years ahead. Driving his Mitsubishi Triton, the fellow Queenslander took the fight right up to Pickering as the season marched on but his weekend in Goondiwindi amounted to little when he retired during the second section on Sunday.
In another surprise result, the production 4×4 class at the Goondiwindi 400, the final stage of the championship, was actually won by Michael and Linda Topfer in their short wheel base Pajero V6 after Pickering suffered rare mechanical troubles on the first section.
“The entry was strong here at Goondiwindi, with 10 cars entered in the 4×4 classes, one of the best we had seen all year”, said Pickering. “We started in a good position after the prologue but the first section on Saturday left us with a lot of work to do for the remaining 280km we had ahead of us on Sunday. Around 20km into the first lap we damaged the rear differential which left us with only front wheel drive, then a little further on we had puncture and stopped to change it. From then on, we were playing catch up all weekend!”
Starting from the back of the field for section two on Sunday, Pickering and Henderson carved up the contenders, passing 18 cars on the first lap of 70km through the rough dusty ‘melon hole’ terrain. As crews dropped by the wayside, Pickering concentrated on the task at hand that had brought him all eight titles and worked away at maintaining consistency, improving their time with every lap. With the title already secure, a strong outright place was their objective making up 43 places along the way.
“That’s the hardest work I’ve had to do on the Championship for a long time,” remarked Pickering at the finish. “Our Mitsubishi Pajero has brought us home once again. Passing all those cars along the way in the choking dust is a just reward for our effort and a proud moment for all the team. It’s been a wonderful season, Mark has scored his first Championship with the team and his navigation has been faultless all year. Team Technician, Bernard Grant has given us the very best car to do the job. Our Pajero is again top of the tracks for 2008.”
Print it: 
Well done to Geoff and the team. (do i have to say that because he is my boss?)
I know he really enjoys the rally’s and i look forward to seeing the DVD.
Good cars Pajero’s
I agree with richo. Pajero’s are brilliant vehicles, if a little bit soft for really difficult off road stuff. If i didn’t live in the ‘burbs i would get one.
Gee, 1-2 out of how many.
Lets see, most events had TWO (yes 2) entries.
Whilst the Production class had three contestants for the overall season points. Victory is still victory, just somewhat hollow when all the facts are presented sometimes.
Richo Says:
October 21st, 2008 at 10:10 am
Good cars Pajero’s
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Yes, but too bad that doesn’t matter much to the sheep who buy anything with a Toyota badge on it.
Chucky Says:”Yes, but too bad that doesn’t matter much to the sheep who buy anything with a Toyota badge on it.”
It’s amazing how no matter what the topic is, some falcadore following retard still manages to put in a dig at Toyota!
Chucky you tool, Pajeros are significantly softer then anything in the Land cruiser range!
I’m yet to see a Pajero on a Mine site!
I doubt anyone is trying to suggest that the Pajero is as tough as a Land Cruiser, however it’s also not in the same class of vehicle as a Land Cruiser now is it, and certainly isn’t in the same price bracket (have you SEEN how expensive the new 200 is?)
The Pajero’s main rival in the Toyota camp is the Prado, and I’m here to tell you that just as many people will tell you that a Pajero is tougher then a Prado as there is saying a Prado is tougher then a Pajero… Personally? I think it’s much of a muchness really as far as off road ability and durability goes and on road I tend to think the Pajero is a nicer drive. Draw your own conclusions to that extent really, but I do think your blowing a head gasket here Spider just a tad un-necessarily, Chucky was just saying a lot of people just buy a Toyota without even considering the alternatives, which is bloody true mate no matter whether you’re a Toyota fan or not!
As far as seeing a Pajero on a mine site, well mate you can’t be looking very hard because they are definitely there, but regardless who really cares mate? How many people buy a 4WD to trundle around in mine sites? And what does that have to do with anything anyway?
Spider,
The popularity of Land Cruisers on mining sites has a lot more to do with massive fleet deals than the vehicles ability. Got talk to a fleet manager!
Bret – spot on mate. Remember the 100 series “Standard” with vynil seats and floors and a naturally aspirated diesel? It was sold to the public for over 50k (I still have no idea how Toyota ever justified that price) yet they sold it to the miners, and the police, for about $35,000. Very interesting pricing Toyota employs with the landcruiser!!!
Hey Richo,
Have you seen the press release on Holden’s Disp, on Demand V8’s. It seems CA missed that one.
Spider Says:
October 21st, 2008 at 11:57 am
Chucky you tool, Pajeros are significantly softer then anything in the Land cruiser range!
I’m yet to see a Pajero on a Mine site!
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As Richo pointed out, the Pajero’s competitor is the Prado, not the Landcruiser. And there’s that Toyota sheep mentality again, assuming that only Toyotas are good enough to go on a mine site (I know you didn’t specifically say it, but you implied it).
The Pajero is relatively good value for money, (and so is the Patrol vs the Landcruiser) but the Prado is overpriced for what it is. The top of the range Grande is more expensive than a well equipped VW Touareg or Volvo XC90, and is similar in price to a Lexus RX350. But as long as people keep buying them in droves because supposedly only Toyotas are reliable (rolls eyes) then Toyota will have no problem charging the prices they do.
Richo, about the price..
1/ supply and demand..
2/ Govenment contract pricing.. minimum purchase 50 units.
AKA, Platnium fleet.
Oh never mind..
DanMan
1 – I was just backing up Bret’s point about fleet pricing, ie the why it is the reason there are so many on mine sites
2 – $50k for a n/a diesel with vinyl carpets and seats and no aircon IS overpriced
3 – you’ve just seen the name “Richo” and decided that you want to start something
Oh never mind… (said in an arrogant swagger as if you’re the only person who understands the extremely simple concept of fleet pricing)
In theory the only reason why anyone would buy a Land Cruiser over a Pajero or a Prado would be if they had to tow more than 2.5t. Other than a few cm’s of space the other two can do everything that a Land Cruiser can.
My work leases a Diesel Land cruiser ($70K retail) for no other reason than to lease it under a fleet plan was cheaper than everything else even a Ford Territory ($35K retail). Toyota is leasing them wholesale that’s why there are so many around even when only leasing one at a time!
The Land Cruiser is great, however when the lease is up I would rather get a Pajero for no other reason than I would like a change from Toyota. They are not the only brand that produce reliable and capable 4WD’s. Plus the extra $10k on the retail will probably have an effect now too.
Why anyone would pay retail $80k for a Toyota over a $50k Pajero I will never know?
Yes but do the Taliban use Mitsubishi’s? I think not! LOL
Look up ‘Toyota war’ on wikipedia for the ultimate realiability backhanded compliment..
Ummm probably because a 70 series is one of the few cars you can buy that will be there for 35 years…
Also a lot of them are bought with drought relief cheques… nice margin in them.. not that i would know.
Why buy a Veyron when a porsche turbo does 80% for 30% price? If you have to ask…
Richo, Chucky the Prado is a Landcruiser 120!!
Landcruiser is just a term for Toyota’s serius 4wd wagons and their ute derivatives!! at the moment in australia you can buy 76,78,79,120,200 series landrcuisers!!
And the Pajero is certainly significantly softer then prado with it’s all around independent suspension and monocone body!!
Thomas the landcruiser 200 and the prado are two completely separate cars, they don’t have a lot in common, just as how the landcruiser 78 has nothing at all to do with the landcruiser 200. In some markets Toyota like the leverage the landcruiser brand by calling the prado a landcruiser 120, just as how here in Australia it’s officially known as the “landcruiser prado” but in reality they are two completely separate cars and we where all debating them in that context.
Also Thomas fact is in the real world the pajero is every bit as capable as the prado, and is certainly as durable. All the lack of a separate chassis does is make the car safer and the car a little bit more refined. The only real advantage in a separate chassis is that you can do a body lift, but how many new prado’s do you see getting around with a body lift anyway?
I think you have been listening to a few too many Toyota diehards mate… Toyota’s are tough cars, but their “advantage” over the other manufacturers is fairly negligible now days and is mainly a myth. Nearly all Japanese manufacturers are just as good now days.
RICHO,
Perception equals Reality.. Not my rules, just the way it is..
(I love my invisible friend!)
As in a large multi-national company that doesn’t even know you exsist but you are happy to argue about.. love it!
DanMan Says:
October 21st, 2008 at 5:16 pm
“Perception equals Reality.. Not my rules, just the way it is.. ”
Nothing could be farther from the truth, and case in point, Toyota proves it nicely – Thanks!
Richo, Please tell me where have I said that the LC200 and Prado share anything??? Also are you employing that the 70 series land cruiser shares anything with LC200?
Please try to comprehend what i have said in my original statement!!
Also i have considered getting a Pajero, since it’s cheaper, but offroad it’s left far behind the prado.. The wheels simply just don’t have as much articulation!!
Also in every review that i have read, (and i have subscribed to 3 4×4 magazines)the Prado beats it offroad!!
And if think that ladder chassis, and solid rear axle is only good for body lifts, you don’t know shi!t about 4wds!!
DanMan – no idea what your talking about, i’m bloody agreeing with you that large mining companies buy toyota’s because of the huge fleet savings they make, thats the whole point of what both Bret and myself where saying, you seem to be arguing with me over the same bloody point mate! As i said, you just noticed that Richo was saying something and thought “i’m gonna have an argument with this bloke”
Tomas – i’m not going to argue with you, the pajero has won more 4wd of the year gongs by 4×4 Australia then the prado, end of story.
The solid rear axle of the prado is definetly an advantage in rear articulation, but i bet you didn’t know that the IFS of a pajero articulates more then the IFS on a prado. Also did you know that the front diff on a pajero is bigger then the REAR diff on a hilux? Yep those Pajero’s ARE actually pretty strong mate.
A modified prado will always be stronger off road then a modified pajero due to the solid rear axle, but in standard form, there is stuff all difference, there really truly isnt. Both are about as good as each other.
and a ladder chassis IS only better for body lifts, maybe in the olden days they where more durable then the monobodies, but these days the monobodies are actually more often then not alot stronger then a ladder chassis! As well as better in crashes and better for NVH. Ladder chassis are great for body lifts, not alot else