Team Mitsubishi Ralliart Europe today confirmed that 30-year old Japanese driver Katsuhiko Taguchi will contest selected rounds of the 2002 British Rally Championship in a group A+ Mitsubishi Lancer EvoVI. The 1999 Asia-Pacific Rally Champion, who contested the 2001 Cyprus Rally as part of the works Mitsubishi team, in addition to both the Hokkaido and Alpine rallies in Japan, will again be partnered by 1995 World Champion co-driver Derek Ringer.

Taguchi is currently confirmed for the Welsh International event, with a strong probability of contesting the Scottish and Jim Clark events, providing him with experience of both the British forests and also sealed asphalt conditions.

Commenting on the announcement, Chairman of Ralliart Europe, Andrew Cowan, said; "The British Rally Championship program is designed to increase Katsuhiko's experience on both gravel and tarmac and also help to develop further the relationship between him and the team. The medium term aim is to get him experience on these surfaces, ready for the Hokkaido and/or Alpine rallies later this year, which feature gravel and tarmac surfaces respectively."

Having competed on the British stages in the latest version of the ultra-successful Lancer EvoVI, Taguchi and Ringer will swap to the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution WRC World Rally Car to compete on home ground.