The Delecour-Gordon duo, behind the wheel of IKE Racing’s Kit Car, face the hazards of the iconic Flemish event - third round of their campaign in the FIA European Historic Rally Championship (Pre-2000 category)
Another demanding challenge awaits François Delecour, joined by the experienced codriver Fabrice Gordon, and the Michelin-shod IKE Racing 306 Maxi. They are set to tackle the tricky tarmac of the Ardeca Ypres Rally (BEL), the third round of their 2026 campaign in the FIA EHRC Pre-2000.
Following back-to-back victories at the Historic Vltava Rallye (Czech Republic) and the Rallye Du Chablais (Switzerland), the team is aiming for another strong result in Flanders, even though they face a completely different kind of battle.
The Ypres Rally is one of Europe’s most prestigious and iconic events, but also one of the most demanding and unique tarmac rallies of the motorsport calendar. Although the route runs mainly through the flat Flemish countryside, it winds along narrow roads with 90-degree junctions that interrupt high-speed straights with heavy braking zones. The uneven surface - alternating smooth tarmac, highly abrasive sections, concrete, and cobblestones - combined with deep drainage ditches lining the roads, hide hazards that test even the most experienced drivers.
The resilient François Delecour, 1993 World Rally Championship runner-up, certainly knows a thing or two about it, having tackled this event seven times throughout his career with various cars and fortunes. As he points out: "I have fantastic memories of Ypres. Back in 1986, with Anne-Chantal Pauwels, we won the N2 class in a Peugeot 205 GTi and finished 22nd overall! But Ypres can also be extremely tough. I am sure I will still remember some parts of the stages, even though my last appearance here was back in 2015."
"The IKE Racing 306 Maxi is a fantastic car," Delecour continues. "The engine, gearbox, and suspension are top-tier, and together with the team and Zippo, we have done an exceptional job on the set-up. The innovations introduced by IKE in the rebuild process make it even better in terms of handling, comfort, and safety compared to the factory car I was lucky enough to drive from 1996 to 1998. It is a highly competitive package, and the Michelin tires further boost its potential. Although we might lose a bit of traction coming out of the numerous T-junctions on the Ypres stages compared to the four-wheel-drive cars, we expect to be right in the mix."
Andrea "ZIPPO" Zivian, founder of IKE Racing and the mastermind behind the ambitious 306 Maxi rebuild project, remains confident following the car's winning performances so far this season: "Ypres will certainly be a great benchmark to compare ourselves against four-wheel-drive cars on a rally characterized by constant heavy braking and restarts. I only have one experience here, in 2019, where I finished seventh overall, so I know how tricky this event can be. It will be an excellent opportunity to see where we stand with our fine-tuning and development work, but I firmly believe that our driver-car-tire package can make the difference even in these conditions."
The IKE Racing 306 Maxi will switch into action at the Ardeca Ypres Rally following the ceremonial start from the iconic Grote Markt square in the historic center of Ypres on Friday, June 26th, at 14:40.
The itinerary covers two legs including 14 special stages, totalling 172.09 competitive kilometres and 425.39 kilometres overall. The rally will end on Saturday, June 27th , with the podium and prize-giving ceremony in Ypres starting at 16:15.
Image: : Delecour / Gordon with the IKE Racing 306 Maxi at Rallye du Chablais
