French rally legend Francois Delecour will be reunited with a rallycross specification Group B Ford RS200 for the inaugural Lydden Legend Festival this summer (July 20-21).
Delecour is one of the most decorated French drivers on the global rallying stage. He drove at the very highest level in the sport for Peugeot, Ford and Mitsubishi manufacturer programmes, claiming four outright World Rally Championship victories and 19 podiums.
Still active today for selected events, including regular appearances with a range of cars in the Monte Carlo Rally, and with his role as a track tester for French publications, Delecour’s rally career spans over four decades. His rallycross credentials are also impressive.
In 1992 he made his Group B machinery debut in the French round of the FIA European Rallycross Championship at Bergerac, as one of several drivers signed by Norwegian Martin Schanche to drive his car while the eventual six-time champion was serving a ban. The goal for Delecour’s participation in his home event was to limit Schanche’s chief rival for the title, eventual champion Will Gollop, scoring strong points.
In a stunning performance, Delecour finished third, behind British driver Pat Doran, and French compatriot Jean-Luc Pailler. Now, Delecour will head to Lydden Hill to drive the car that won that very event, Pat Doran’s Ford RS200 at the first-ever Lydden Legend Festival, joining an eclectic range of rally and rallycross stars and machinery to celebrate the rich history of the sport.
“Last time was in Bergercac in 1992. It was great, great, great experience, it was the first time for me in rallycross and I finished third. If I remember well, I had to absolutely finish in front of Gollop for Martin Schanche,” said Delecour. “I finished in front of Gollop, I pushed him a little bit on the side and he went off. The RS200 was absolutely great, I had not had an opportunity or chance before to drive a Group B car and I’m so, so enthusiastic and happy to come in July to Lydden Hill for the Legend Festival. I have never been there, but I have been in Loheac many times and I love it. I’m so pleased to come to Lydden Hill and have the opportunity to again drive the RS200, it’s so fantastic for me.”
Now in his 60s, the runner-up in the 1993 World Rally Championship Drivers’ standings remains as passionate about motor sport as ever. “I love to still be driving, I am driving many different cars, still in rally as well in historic and modern. I change car all the time – this is my life, I’ve been doing it for 42 years now. I am still pushing hard to do the Monte Carlo rally each year and it’s all interesting, comparing the different cars and the cars from different times.”
Delecour joins a growing list of star drivers and cars attending the Lydden Legend Festival, keep up with those announced so far on the social media channel: @lyddenlegend