Mitsubishi appoints new technical director.

Mitsubishi Motors, in line with the recent reorganisation of its motor sports activities and the pause decided for the 2003 FIA WRC season, announced yesterday the appointment of Mario Fornaris as technical director at Ralliart Europe, its FIA WRC team.

Effective from 1 January 2003, Fornaris will assume full engineering responsibility.

Sven Quandt - new head of Mitsubishi motor sports activities - said: "We are turning around our World Rally Championship organisation like Mitsubishi Motors is turning itself around. With the appointment of Mario Fornaris, we are showing how serious we take our return to the top of the sport."

Born in Turin, Italy and a graduate of the Turin Polytechnic, Fornaris will bring ten years of motor sports experience and expertise to Ralliart Europe. With respect to the goal set by the team of a successful return in 2004, his last assignment with the current world champion [Peugeot] will be of major significance.

Commenting on his appointment, Fornaris noted: "It is good to be joining a manufacturer with a deep-rooted engineering and motor sports tradition like Mitsubishi Motors. I also admire their courage at tackling challenges with a radical approach."

Under the umbrella motor sports organisation announced on 22 November, Ralliart Europe will continue to work closely with Mitsubishi Motors R&D in Japan. However, the driving force for the 2003 development program will shift towards the team led by Fornaris, based in Rugby, United Kingdom.