-Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) and
Mitsubishi Ralliart today announced that Francois Delecour has been released
from his contract with Team Mitsubishi Ralliart in a mutual decision with
the driver. While Mitsubishi Motors will honor its obligations defined
at the beginning of the contractual period, Delecour is now free to pursue
alternative options.
Delecour joined Team Mitsubishi Ralliart at the beginning of the 2002
season, with a two-year contract. However, in December 2002, Mitsubishi
Motors announced it would not contest the 2003 FIA World Rally Championship,
instead spending the year developing a more competitive car, ready for
a return to the sport in 2004.
Mitsubishi Motors, which has been the FIA manufacturers' world champion
once and won the driver's title four times, is committed to a successful
return to the FIA World Rally Championship in 2004.
At the Mitsubishi Motors Champions Meeting in Tokyo on 15 February, MMC
Executive Vice President Ulrich Walker said, "We are busy preparing
for a successful return. We have put a new organization in place and hired
two professionals with a strong track record, Sven Quandt as head of our
motor sports activities, and Mario Fornaris as our new Technical Director."
He added, "Next season we will be back at the WRC with our Lancer
Evolution, and we will be back to win."
