Mitsubishi Ralliart Europe has appointed George Donaldson as its new team manager. Former team manager at Toyota, George Donaldson will join the Mitsubishi team in preparation for the 2001 FIA World Rally Championship. George has been involved in rallying for a long time. He was British national Group N champion in 1988 and won the Group N class on the 1987 Lombard RAC Rally. He joined Toyota in 1985 where he held various roles before being appointed team co-ordinator in 1992 and later team manager in 1994. He has worked with Carlos Sainz, Didier Auriol, Freddy Loix, Juha Kankkunen and Marcus Gronholm and won the manufacturers’ title in 1999.

"I am euphoric about the chance to work with Mitsubishi", said 42 year old George Donaldson. "I have an enormous amount of respect for this established team which competes in the World Rally Championship in such a 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".

"I am delighted to welcome George to the team", said team director Andrew Cowan. "I know 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".