Mitsubishi announces new Team Manager.

Mitsubishi Ralliart Europe has announced two new appointments at its headquarters in Rugby, England, which are set to restructure the team's management following the departures of Team Manger George Donaldson and PR Manager Adrian Atkinson to rivals Subaru.

Derek Dauncey has been promoted to the position of Team Manager with immediate effect, while Jim Blackstock joined the company as PR Manager on September 10.

36-year-old Derek Dauncey's career in motorsport began in 1988. He was the team responsible for Kenjiro Shinozuka's assault on the Safari and Ivory Coast rallies with the Mitsubishi Galant VR4. Further experience in the British, Spanish and Asia-Pacific Rally Championships led him to join Mitsubishi Ralliart Europe in 1993 where his progression from Parts Manager to Chief Mechanic and most latterly Logistics Manager was swift.

With a wealth of hands-on experience and knowledge borne from some of the most high-profile rally championships in the world, Dauncey's promotion to Team Manager was seen as a natural progression.

"Derek has been part of the Mitsubishi organisation for more than 13 years, which is an invaluable asset as we continue to focus on our goal of another World Championship title," expalineed Andrew Cowan, Chairman of Mitsubishi Ralliart Europe.

"Over the years he has been part of the successes we have shared with Ari Vatanen, Kenneth Eriksson, Richard Burns, Freddy Loix, and Tommi Makinen as World Champion. He is more than capable of doing an excellent job, maintaining and building on our good relationships."

Jim Blackstock has a wealth of experience in the field of motoring journalism, motorsport public relations and the FIA World Rally Championship. The 35-year-old from Northamptonshire formerly held the position of Editor for both Max Power and Revs, two of Britain's leading motoring magazines, and most recently was PR Manager at Motor Sport Developments, the company responsible for Hyundai's assault on the World Rally Championship.

Blackstock, who also speaks fluent French, joins the PR Team from Rally New Zealand, the 10th and next round of the 2001 Championship.

"Jim also has great international experience in the industry and we are looking forward to welcoming him on board," said Cowan. "He will work very closely with our colleagues in Japan as part of the international PR team, as well as looking after our sponsors and partners."

Mitsubishi are now focused on success in the southern hemisphere with its three-car entry of Tommi Makinen, Toni Gardemeister and Freddy Loix.

Victory in New Zealand (19-23 September) would be a fitting finale for the works Group A Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, one of world rallying's most successful car models with 26 victories to its credit.

The Japanese manufacturer then launches its all-new Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution World Rally Car on the 11th round of the series, Italy's Sanremo Rally (3-7 October).