Delecour: “Mitsubishi ruined my career”

François Delecour, winner of the Rally Monte-Carlo in 1994 plunged back into the adventure of the most famous rally. Former star of the World Championship, Monte-Carlo lost its world status but regained its original form by joining the IRC. This year, for the centenary of the event, François Delecour, 48 years old, will be part of the field, at the wheel of a Peugeot 207 S2000.

“I lack visibility compared to the competition. I know that Hänninen, Kopecky, Vouilloz, Wilks, Sarrazin are going fast but how far can they go? There will also be Petter Solberg,” comments the Northerner for lavoixdessports.com, now based in the Var and who has shares in a luxury car rental company in Corsica.

Besides Monte-Carlo, François Delecour could compete in a championship in Citroën C4 WRC ! After a trip to Italy, the pilot saw a possible program take shape. “The Italians have a project for me: to have me race in their championship with a Citroën C4. This is what we call the “Italian miracle”. There, they find money, sponsors…”

But François Delecour also remains marked by the end of his global career, retaining bitterness towards the manufacturer who employed him. “ “In 2001-2002, Mitsubishi ruined my career. The Lancer WRC was at the end of its rope, “undriveable”. Loix was out, Makinen too. This car remains a huge regret. »

Despite everything, almost ten years later, Delecour remains bitten by the passion for piloting. “So I stopped but after so many years of taking care of my children and my new construction, I had a flash: “Shit, that’s all I know how to do, pilot!” “, I said to myself. The rally is the rally…”