Donaldson gets Short role at Mitsubishi.

Former Toyota team manager George Donaldson has been appointed to a similar post with outgoing championship team Mitsubishi Ralliart.

The 42-year old Scot replaced former co-driver Phil Short in the role, after the latter announced his retirement last week. Donaldson joins the team for the 2001 campaign, and is expected to work closely with both four-time champion Tommi Makinen and the soon to be re-signed Freddy Loix as the team gets to grips with its first WRC model.

"I'm euphoric about the chance to work with Mitsubishi!" Donaldson said, "I have an enormous amount of respect for this established team, which competes in the world rally championship in such an intelligent and clever manner.

"Mitsubishi's incredible achievement of four drivers' titles in a row is a tough act to follow, but I hope to be able to bring with me some abilities to take it forward."

Donaldson's record in rallying stretches back to the 1980s, where he won several GpN titles before joining Toyota. His role as team manager with the TTE operation brought him into contact with several of the names he will now have to overcome in order to take Mitsubishi back to the top of the world series, including both Carlos Sainz and Marcus Gronholm.

"I am delighted to welcome George to the team," said Ralliart director Andrew Cowan, "I have known him for a long time, and we now have the opportunity of working together in this exciting new phase of the team's development. His experience and successes speak for themselves, and I am sure he will be a great asset to the team."

Mitsubishi is expected to reveal its WRC version of the Lancer/Carisma early next season, although the car is not understood to be entered in the opening few events. Makinen remains on-board despite offers from rival teams, and Loix is thought to be on the verge of re-signing with the team, despite a mixed 2000 campaign.