Top 5 cars that marked the career of François Delecour

5.Ford Fiesta WRC

If the great years of this driver with strong character were in the 90's, François Delecour continues to drive in rally. His latest coup to date in the World Rally Championship (WRC) took place in Monte-Carlo 2012. Invited no less than by the team M-Sport, the Frenchman finds Malcolm Wilson for a one-shot on a Fiesta WRC.

Despite his 49 years, the steering wheel of the native of Hazebrouck (North) remains precise. He even achieves several top 3 specials despite typical Monte-Carl' conditions (dry road as well as snowy passages) and finished with a satisfactory sixth place, notably ahead Ott Tänak (Ford).

4. Peugeot 206 WRCs

Official driver of the Lion brand, François Delecour participated in Peugeot's long-awaited return to the world stage thanks to the 206 WRC in 1999. But victim of a glaring lack of reliability, he gave up on six of the first seven outings with her.

In 2000, things looked more optimistic and the Frenchman gained momentum to finish the season with a series of six rallies in the top 6, with four podiums, including one that remains across his throat. In Corsica, Peugeot applies instructions to put an end to an internal struggle between Gilles Panizzi (winner) and François Delecour, who will wisely keep his second place.

3. Peugeot 306 Maxi

It's not just Gilles Panizzi who has mishandled the French kit-car. François Delecour was also part of the official team in the French Asphalt Championship between 1996 and 1998. With its roaring engine and its front tires waxed by acceleration (it's a traction), the 306 Maxi is very at ease on the tarmac of the Tour de Corse. So fit that in 1998, François Delecour finishes second, ahead of more powerful WRCs and technological!

2. Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 4×4

“I didn’t hit it!” I lost a wheel! But damn, it’s not true…” François Delecour's heartfelt cry at the finish of the final special stage of Monte-Carlo 1991 belongs to the legend of the Monegasque event.

At that moment, the 28-year-old Frenchman, largely in a position to win his first world-level rally, saw his hopes go up in smoke when he broke a suspension on his Sierra, while he was around forty seconds ahead of Carlos Sainz. Three consecutive retirements followed in Portugal, Corsica and the Acropolis but thanks to a podium in Catalonia, François Delecour, revelation of this campaign, finished seventh in the general classification.

1. Ford Escort RS Cosworth

One of his most beautiful cars (who forgot the pie server-shaped rear wing?) and the one that took him to the position of vice-world champion in 1993. The Escort RS Cosworth of Group A developed 310 horsepower from a 4-cylinder 2-liter turbo unit and no one other than the Habs was as victorious at his wheel (four successes).

François Delecour achieved three successes in 1993: in Portugal, Corsica and Catalonia. All he needs is a bit of speed in New Zealand to overcome Colin McRae (Subaru) and showed a consistency worthy of a title candidate. Except that Juha Kankkunen (Toyota) plays an additional round (10 against 9) and, more experienced in management for a year, wins the duel.

So impressed with this car, François Delecour still slips behind the wheel of the Escort RS Cosworth (equipped with period Mobil 1 decor) during national rallies such as the Cévennes, the Var, or the Pays de Grasse in March 2018 .

Photos: © DPPI