Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) announced today that it will restructure
its motor sports engineering activities over the next 12 months to prepare
for a full-fledged return to the FIA WRC (World Rally Championship) in
2004. MMC will not take part in the FIA WRC in 2003 to concentrate fully
on a successful return to the event in 2004.
Andrew Cowan, Chairman of Ralliart Europe and Sven Quandt, head of MMC's
motor sports activities, jointly voted for this step after a thorough
evaluation of the current situation. Quandt said, "This decision
is necessary as our engineering resources in Japan and Europe are currently
in the process of being restructured. We need some time to return as a
top WRC team just as MMC needed time to return to profitability and growth
over the last 18 months. We aim for a successful return with a competitive
car in the near future to the benefit of the Mitsubishi Motors brand."
MMC Executive Vice President Ulrich Walker added, "We have already initiated
new projects over the last few months and together with our colleagues
in Japan and Europe we are looking forward to renewed success soon." All
resources at Ralliart Europe in Rugby (UK) will continue to be utilized
in full. Furthermore, Ralliart Europe will participate in selected rallies
in 2003 as part of its development work.
Mitsubishi Motors has been the FIA manufacturers' world champion once
and won the driver's title four times. MMC's first world rally victory
was in 1974 at the East African Safari Rally.
