François Delecour

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François Delecour
François Delecour in 2014
Personal information
NationalityFrance French
Born (1962-08-30) 30 August 1962 (age 61)
Hazebrouck, France
World Rally Championship record
Active years1984–2002, 2012, 2014–2017, 2022-
Co-driverFrance Anne-Chantal Pauwels
Monaco "Tilber"
France Daniel Grataloup
France Catherine François
France Dominique Savignoni
France Sabrina De Castelli
France Jean-Rodolfe Guigonnet
TeamsFord, Peugeot, Mitsubishi, Fiat
Rallies109
Championships0
Rally wins4
Podiums19
Stage wins214
Total points334
First rally1984 Monte Carlo Rally
First win1993 Rallye de Portugal
Last win1994 Monte Carlo Rally
Last rally2023 Monte Carlo Rally

François Delecour (born 30 August 1962) is a French rally driver.

Biography[edit]

Career in World Rally Championship[edit]

François Delecour began rallying in 1981, in the French national championship. He entered his first major event, the Monte Carlo Rally, three years later, driving a Talbot Samba. He was co driven by his then girlfriend Anne Chantal Pauwels.[1][2][3][4][5][6] For 1985 and 1986 he drove in the Peugeot 205 Cup, finishing third in both seasons. This was enough to earn him a degree of support from the Peugeot works team for subsequent years, culminating in a full works drive in a Peugeot 309 in 1989 and 1990, in which year he finished ninth overall and first two-wheel-drive car on the Monte Carlo.

Delecour was then hired by the Ford team to contest the 1991 World Championship. The four-wheel-drive Ford Sierra Cosworth, introduced the previous season, was not regarded as fully competitive, but Delecour demonstrated a remarkable turn of speed on the Monte Carlo Rally. He took the lead from reigning world champion Carlos Sainz on the third day and seemed certain to win until he lost five minutes with suspension failure on the final night and dropped to third place. Delecour retired from the next three events he contested, but then took fourth and third places on the San Remo and Catalunya rallies and sixth on the final round of the series, the RAC Rally in Great Britain, to finish seventh in the driver's championship. Delecour remained with Ford for the 1992 season, and was joined by twice world champion Massimo Biasion. Results were generally better than in 1991, with second places for Biasion in Portugal and Delecour on the Tour de Corse. Delecour also took third place on the San Remo, leaving him sixth in the World Championship.

For 1993 the Sierra was replaced by the smaller and more agile Ford Escort RS Cosworth. Delecour immediately showed its potential by leading the Monte Carlo until the final night, with Biasion second. However, both lost out to a final-night charge by Didier Auriol, and finished second and third. Delecour at this time was still regarded as a specialist on asphalt rallies, but he finally established his reputation as an effective driver on all surfaces by winning the third round of the series, the Portuguese Rally, again with Biasion second. He won again in Corsica, giving him the championship lead. However, retirement in Greece and San Remo saw the title pass to Juha Kankkunen, although Delecour compensated somewhat by winning the Catalunya Rally and finishing a strong fourth on the RAC, giving him second place in the World Championship. His co-driver, Daniel Grataloup, was awarded the co-driver's championship for that year.[7][8][9] After his strong showing in 1993, Delecour was widely regarded as the strongest contender for the 1994 world title, and he duly won the Monte Carlo Rally. However, he retired with engine failure in Portugal. A month later he was involved in a road accident, when the Ferrari F40 he was driving was hit, ironically by an amateur rally driver practicing for a local event.[10] Delecour suffered severe leg injuries and was forced to miss the next four rounds of the series. He returned to action in Finland and finished fourth, before retiring from the final two events of the year.

At the end of 1994 the official Ford team was closed down, and cars were instead run by Belgian concern RAS Sport. Biasion left the team, leaving Delecour as lead driver, backed up by Bruno Thiry. However, the Escort was less competitive than in the previous year and he failed to win an event, although he finished second in Monte Carlo and Corsica. His final event for the Ford team was in Sweden in 1996.[11]

After leaving Ford, Delecour was hired by Peugeot to head their campaign for the French Rally Championship, driving the Peugeot 306 kit-car. He finished third in the championship in both 1996 and 1997, winning several events outright along the way. Moreover, he also contested some of the asphalt rounds of the World Championship, where the Peugeot was fast enough to be a contender for outright victory. He finished fourth on both the 1996 and 1997 Tour de Corse.[12] Subsequently, he was involved in the early years of the Peugeot 206 WRC project, which saw him return to the World Championship for the 1999 season. He did not win any events, but scored consistent top-ten finishes, including second place in Corsica and San Remo, the latter marred by acrimony between Delecour and team-mate Gilles Panizzi, who went on to win the event.[13]

Delecour with a Ford Focus RS WRC 01 at the 2001 Rally Finland.

Delecour switched back to Ford for 2001. The Blue Oval's effort, however, was by now being masterminded not from long-time headquarters Boreham, but by Malcolm Wilson's M-Sport in Cumbria, which ran a third, alternatively liveried Ford Focus RS WRC 01 for Delecour. A shunt, nearly crippling for co-driver Daniel Grataloup, on his final outing in Australia threatened to mar his time at the team. But despite otherwise again proving a regular scorer, he was once again to change teams come the following year, this time to Mitsubishi to drive their still young first World Rally Car, he and Alister McRae being drafted in as replacements for both outgoing four-time World Champion, Tommi Makinen and his teammate Freddy Loix.

Unfortunately, both he and McRae were to suffer as the Japanese marque's competitiveness continued to wane. During this time Delecour again suffered a massive shunt during that year's Rally Australia. This time the accident had effectively ended Grataloup's top line career due to injuries he sustained as a result of the accident.[14][15] Delecour, despite his accident, would go on to compete at the next event in Great Britain. This event was noted as Delecour's Mitsubishi left the road in the middle of the event causing him to lose his temper at his replacement co-driver Dominique Savignoni.[16][17] After a comparatively unsuccessful season, Mitsubishi announced a sabbatical from the series until 2004, effectively bringing Delecour's world championship career to a close.

Later career and comeback in Monte Carlo[edit]

Delecour in Lyon-charbonnière Rally 2007

After WRC career Delecour did rally-raid with SMG V8 buggy and some racing with Porsche 996 GT3 RS.[18] In 2011, 100th year of Monte Carlo rally, he returned to rallying with Peugeot 207 Super 2000 and finished on 5th place in Rallye Monte Carlo, which was part of IRC-Championship.[19]

Delecour in Monte-Carlo Rally 2012

In December 2011 it was announced that Delecour would make a comeback to WRC. He ran the latest-spec Fiesta WRC in 2012 Monte Carlo Rally.[20] In the rally Delecour finished 6th and drove some top 3 stage times during the event.[21]

In 2012 Delecour also returned to the IRC-championship in Rally Corsica, in which he drove a Visit Romania-backed Renault Mégane RS in IRC Production Cup and IRC 2WD Cup. Delecour finished third in his class and said he would like to do more IRC rallies in the future.[22][23] Delecour competed in 2012 in the Romanian Rally Championship, winning 5 rallies on the way to the title and also finishing third among the IRC drivers in the Sibiu Rally with his Peugeot 207 S2000, the Romanian event being part of the IRC championship[24] Late 2012 Delecour announced he would take part in European Rally Championship with Peugeot 207 S2000 in 2013 and he will be co-driven by Dominique Savignoni. Delecour also defended his Romanian Rally Championship title in 2013.[25]

In December 2013 it was announced that Delecour, after winning the Romanian championship for the second time, would take part in Rally Monte Carlo 2014 with M-Sport Ford Fiesta RS WRC.[26] Unfortunately, he was forced to retire on the first stage because of a broken accelerator.[27]

In 2014 Delecour continued participating in the Romanian Rally Championship[28] and won the title for the third time.[29] He also returned to WRC for 2014 edition of Rallye de France Alsace with Tuthill Porsche 911 RGT and finished 37th, after a small off that damaged the car's radiator. After the rally Delecour told he will work for FIA R-GT Cup, a championship in which he wants to compete in 2015.[30][31]

In early 2015 it was announced that Delecour would participate in FIA's new R-GT Cup series for GT cars in the World and European Rally Championships with a Porsche 911 run by Tuthill team. Rallies include Monte Carlo, Ypres Rally, Rally Germany, Rally Valais and the Tour of Corsica.[32] In Monte Carlo, Delecour won his class and finished on 23rd place in overall results with his Porsche.[33] In Ypres Rally, Delecour finished second in RGT Cup class.[34] He finished second again in RGT cup event in Rallye Deutschland, but his overall position was 53rd[35] after suffering from problems, including going off in the second day of the rally. Delecour won the next event, Tour de Corse, and secured the victory of FIA R-GT championship.[36]

In 2023 François Delecours entered the Monte Carlo WRC round in a privately entered Rally 2 Skoda. He finished 10th in his category.

European Rally Championship 2013[edit]

In the first event of ERC 2013 in Jänner Rallye, Delecour finished seventh, after suffering a time penalty due a timing error by the crew[37] and a spin and a puncture.[38] In following event in Latvia, Delecour finished third.[39] Delecour - sponsored by Visit Romania and therefore prioritizing his campaign in Eastern Europe over his ERC rallies if the events clash - decided to skip the ERC event Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés in order to contest the Romanian Rally Championship Tess Rally Braşov, which he won.[40] Next ERC event for Delecour was Rally of Corsica, in which he finished fifth.[41] In Sibiu Rally Romania Delecour scored his second podium of his ERC season by finishing second, behind Jan Kopecký, while scoring top points for Romanian rally championship.[42] He did not compete in other ERC events that year, but finished 4th in the Championship.[43]

WRC victories[edit]

 #  Event Season Co-driver Car
1 Portugal 27° Rallye de Portugal 1993 Daniel Grataloup Ford Escort RS Cosworth
2 France 37ème Tour de Corse – Rallye de France
3 Spain 29° Rallye Catalunya-Costa Brava (Rallye de España)
4 Monaco 62ème Rallye Automobile de Monte-Carlo 1994

Career results[edit]

Complete WRC results[edit]

Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Pos. Pts
1984 François Delecour Talbot Samba MON
67 		SWE POR KEN FRA GRE NZL ARG FIN ITA CIV GBR NC 0
1985 François Delecour Peugeot 205 GTi MON
Ret 		SWE POR KEN FRA GRE NZL ARG FIN ITA CIV GBR NC 0
1986 François Delecour Peugeot 205 GTi MON
Ret 		SWE POR KEN FRA GRE NZL ARG FIN CIV ITA GBR USA NC 0
1987 François Delecour Peugeot 205 GTi MON
20 		SWE POR KEN FRA GRE USA NZL ARG FIN CIV ITA GBR NC 0
1990 Peugeot France Peugeot 309 GTI MON
9 		POR KEN FRA
Ret 		GRE NZL ARG FIN AUS ITA CIV GBR NC 0
1991 Q8 Team Ford Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 4x4 MON
3 		SWE POR
Ret 		KEN FRA
Ret 		GRE
Ret 		NZL ARG FIN AUS ITA
4 		CIV ESP
3 		GBR
6 		7th 40
1992 Ford Motor Co. Ltd. Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 4x4 MON
4 		SWE POR
Ret 		KEN FRA
2 		GRE
5 		NZL ARG FIN
Ret 		AUS ITA
3 		CIV ESP
Ret 		GBR 6th 45
1993 Ford Motor Co. Ltd. Ford Escort RS Cosworth MON
2 		SWE POR
1 		KEN FRA
1 		GRE
Ret 		ARG NZL
2 		FIN AUS
3 		ITA
Ret 		ESP
1 		GBR
4 		2nd 112
1994 Ford Motor Co. Ltd. Ford Escort RS Cosworth MON
1 		POR
Ret 		KEN FRA GRE ARG NZL FIN
4 		ITA
Ret 		GBR
EX 		8th 30
1995 R.A.S. Ford Ford Escort RS Cosworth MON
2 		SWE
Ret 		POR
Ret 		FRA
2 		NZL
6 		AUS
Ret 		ESP
4 		GBR
Ret 		4th 46
1996 Ford Motor Co. Ltd. Ford Escort RS Cosworth SWE
11 		KEN IDN GRE ARG FIN AUS ITA ESP NC 0
1997 Peugeot Sport Peugeot 306 Maxi MON SWE KEN POR ESP
EX 		FRA
4 		ARG GRE NZL FIN IDN ITA AUS GBR 19th 3
1998 Peugeot Sport Peugeot 306 Maxi MON
10 		SWE KEN POR ESP
8 		FRA
2 		ARG GRE NZL FIN ITA
Ret 		AUS GBR 10th 6
1999 François Delecour Ford Escort WRC MON
4 		16th 3
Peugeot Esso Peugeot 206 WRC SWE KEN POR ESP FRA
Ret 		ARG GRE
Ret 		NZL FIN
9 		CHN ITA
Ret 		AUS
Ret 		GBR
Ret
2000 Peugeot Esso Peugeot 206 WRC MON
Ret 		SWE
7 		KEN POR
5 		ESP
7 		ARG
13 		GRE
9 		NZL
Ret 		FIN
6 		CYP
3 		FRA
2 		ITA
2 		AUS
3 		GBR
6 		6th 24
2001 Ford Motor Co. Ltd. Ford Focus RS WRC 01 MON
3 		SWE
5 		POR
5 		ESP
6 		ARG
7 		CYP
Ret 		GRE
5 		KEN
4 		FIN
Ret 		NZL
12 		ITA
6 		FRA
10 		AUS
Ret 		GBR 9th 15
2002 Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer WRC MON
9 		SWE
34 		FRA
7 		ESP
9 		CYP
13 		ARG
Ret 		GRE
11 		KEN
Ret 		NC 0
Mitsubishi Lancer WRC2 FIN
Ret 		GER
9 		ITA
10 		NZL
9 		AUS
Ret 		GBR
Ret
2012 M-Sport Ford World Rally Team Ford Fiesta RS WRC MON
6 		SWE MEX POR ARG GRE NZL FIN GER GBR FRA ITA ESP 18th 8
2014 François Delecour Ford Fiesta RS WRC MON
Ret 		SWE MEX POR ARG ITA POL FIN GER AUS NC 0
Porsche 997 GT3 FRA
37 		ESP GBR
2015 François Delecour Porsche 997 GT3 MON
23 		SWE MEX ARG POR ITA POL FIN GER
53 		AUS FRA
19 		ESP GBR NC 0
2016 François Delecour Peugeot 207 S2000 MON
16 		SWE MEX ARG POR ITA POL FIN GER CHN FRA ESP GBR AUS NC 0
2017 François Delecour Fiat 124 Abarth Rally RGT MON
Ret 		SWE MEX FRA
19 		ARG POR ITA POL FIN GER ESP GBR AUS NC 0
2021 François Delecour Alpine A110 Rally RGT MON
25 		ARC CRO POR ITA KEN EST BEL GRE FIN ESP MNZ NC 0
2023 François Delecour Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 MON
19 		SWE MEX CRO POR ITA KEN EST FIN GRE CHL EUR JPN NC 0

* Season still in progress.

IRC results[edit]

Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Pos. Points
2011 Enjolras Sport Peugeot 207 S2000 MON
5 		CAN COR UKR YPR AZO ZLI MEC SAN SCO CYP 19th 10
2012 Renault Sport Technologies Renault Mégane RS AZO CAN IRL COR
15 		ITA YPR SMR 25th 15
Munaretto Sport Peugeot 207 S2000 ROM
3 		ZLI YAL SLI SAN CYP

European Rally Championship results[edit]

Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Pos. Points
2013 Kronos Racing Peugeot 207 S2000 JÄN
73 		LIE
38 		CAN AZO COR
56 		YPR
DNS 		ROM
29 		ZLÍ POL CRO SAN VAL 4th 75

FIA R-GT Cup results[edit]

Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 Pos. Points
2015 François Delecour Porsche 997 GT3 MON
1 		BEL
2 		GER
2 		FRA
1 		SUI
Ret 		1st 86
2017 François Delecour Fiat 124 R-GT MON
Ret 		FRA
2 		CZE ITA SUI 4th 18

Complete FIA European Rallycross Championship results[edit]

Division 2[edit]

Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 ERX Points
1992 François Delecour Ford RS200 E2 GBR
 AUT
 POR
 FIN
 SWE
 FRA
3 		IRE
 BEL
 NED
 NOR
 GER
 23rd 15

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Winning potential: but is that enough? | Motor Sport Magazine Archive". Archived from the original on 5 October 2019.
  2. ^ "François Delecour - eWRC-results.com".
  3. ^ "Le sport et les sous avec François DELECOUR & Anne Chantal PAUWELS". YouTube. Archived from the original on 5 December 2021.
  4. ^ "- YouTube". YouTube.[dead link]
  5. ^ "- YouTube". YouTube.[dead link]
  6. ^ "Delecour / Pauwels : Les Bonnie & Clyde du rallye (Partie 1)". 18 January 2021.
  7. ^ "Daniel Grataloup : l'Iron Man des coéquipiers - Echappement Classic". Archived from the original on 11 October 2019.
  8. ^ fr:Daniel Grataloup [circular reference]
  9. ^ "Ford Escort (Mk5) Details : Rallye-Info.com". Archived from the original on 26 February 2008.
  10. ^ "The month in MOTOR SPORT | Motor Sport Magazine Archive". Archived from the original on 2 July 2017.
  11. ^ Francois Delecour – WRC Driver Profile Archived 16 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine Rallye-Info.com. Retrieved 11 January 2008
  12. ^ "eWRC-results.com - rally database".
  13. ^ "- YouTube". YouTube.
  14. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Francois Delecour 2002 Australia". YouTube.
  15. ^ "YouTube, a Google company". YouTube. Archived from the original on 7 February 2017.
  16. ^ "RallyBase".
  17. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Francois Delecour crash". YouTube.
  18. ^ Auto123.com – Francois Delecour returns Retrieved 22 February 2011
  19. ^ autosport.com – Bouffier clinches Monte Carlo victory Retrieved 22 February 2011
  20. ^ MaxRally – Delecour secures Ford seat for Monte Archived 9 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 7 December 2011
  21. ^ Crash.net – STOP PRESS: Loeb wins Rallye Monte Carlo Retrieved 22 January 2012
  22. ^ IRC - Delecour prepares for IRC return in Corsica Archived 26 January 2013 at archive.today Retrieved 16 May 2012
  23. ^ Motorsport Nexten-Auto.com - IRC - Delecour keen on more IRC action Retrieved 16 May 2012
  24. ^ Crash.net - IRC: Mikkelsen returns to winning ways in Romania Retrieved 23 July 2012
  25. ^ Crash.net - WRC » ERC: Delecour, Kronos unite for new-look series Archived 23 December 2012 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 20 December 2012
  26. ^ autosport.co.uk - Francois Delecour seals Monte Carlo Rally return with M-Sport Retrieved on 18 December 2013
  27. ^ MAXRALLY - Delecour: pedal to the metal Archived 17 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 18 January 2014
  28. ^ eWRC - François Delecour profile Retrieved 2 August 2014
  29. ^ Tuthill Porsche - Interview with Richard Tuthill and Francois Delecour Retrieved 29 September 2014
  30. ^ Tuthill Porsche - Delecour is Fastest Porsche on WRC Rally France Day 3 Retrieved 5 October 2014
  31. ^ WRC.com - Rallye de France-Alsace: Results overall Archived 24 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 5 October 2015
  32. ^ autosport.co.uk - Francois Delecour commits to inaugural R-GT Cup Retrieved 8 January 2015
  33. ^ WRC.com - Results Monte Carlo, Final Results Archived 25 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 25 January 2015
  34. ^ KENOTEK Ypres Rally - ERC - RESULTS Archived 1 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 29 June 2015
  35. ^ WRC.com - Overall results of 2015 Rallye Deutschland Archived 25 August 2015 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 25 August 2015
  36. ^ Tuthill Porsche: Tuthill Porsche wins the FIA R-GT Rally Championship Retrieved 6 October 2015
  37. ^ Crash.net - ERC: Kopecky leads after day one in Austria Retrieved 5 January 2013
  38. ^ FIA European Rally Championship - ERC Jännerallye day two report: Kopecký wins by half a second Archived 2 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 5 January 2013
  39. ^ FIA European Rally Championship - After SS15: Černý wins stage, Ketomaa wins rally Archived 6 February 2013 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 3 February 2013
  40. ^ FIA European Rally Championship - Romania victory for ERC hero Delecour Archived 3 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 28 March 2013
  41. ^ autosport.com - Corsica ERC: Bryan Bouffier clinches victory from Jan Kopecky Retrieved 18 May 2013
  42. ^ ERC European Rally Championship - After SS14: Kopecký fastest on Superspeciala to win Sibiu Rally Archived 3 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 27 July 2013
  43. ^ ERC European Rally Championship - Standings Archived 23 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 26 November 2013

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to François Delecour.
Sporting positions
Preceded by Race of Champions
Champion of Champions
1995 		Succeeded by
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