To extend championship lead
In the Austrian round of the FIA European Historic Rally Championship pre 2000 cat, the French driver, co-driven by Fabrice Gordon in the Peugeot Kit-Car rebuilt by IKE Racing, consolidated his championship lead after a hard-fought race made even more challenging by the weather
Rallye Weiz was no easy task for Delecour and Gordon. However, behind the wheel of the Michelin-shod 306 Maxi IKE Racing, the duo achieved their pre-event goals, securing the win in the 2026 FIA EHRC Pre-2000 category and extending their lead at the top of the championship standings.
The rally was marked by an initial minor driveshaft issue, which caused some delay during the first two stages before being quickly resolved, but above all by highly unpredictable weather.
Throughout the weekend, storms and severe downpours quickly alternated with clear sunshine. This turned tyre choice into a lottery and left the special stages extremely tricky, with unpredictable dry, damp, or flooded sections hiding risks behind every corner.
Experience certainly played to the advantage of Delecour and Gordon. Despite this being their first appearance at the Austrian event, they managed their pace and precision perfectly, regaining ground during the second leg to ultimately take the lead in the FIA EHRC Pre-2000 classification and finish fifth overall in the EHRC standings.
The 1993 WRC Runner-Up was pleased with this important result on a new and highly demanding event: “It was definitely a great, hard-fought rally, featuring highly technical and twisty stages, even though the weather threw plenty of extra challenges at us this weekend. Balancing a strong pace while avoiding costly mistakes in conditions like the ones we faced in Weiz was very demanding. We had the crucial support of Michelin for tyres, and the team provided a highly competitive car. These factors, combined with the experience of over 200 rallies under my belt, allowed us to get the job done.”
Andrea “ZIPPO” Zivian, founder of the Reggio Emilia-based IKE team that completely rebuilt the legendary French Kit-Car, was equally delighted with the victory: “This rally kept us on the edge of our seats during every stage due to the unpredictable weather. However, the reliability achieved by our 306 Maxi, managed by François’ extensive experience and Michelin’s dedicated support, allowed us to reach our goal. Now that the pressure is off, we can fully appreciate the satisfaction of a great team effort. Even though we have a solid advantage, there is still work to be done for the championship, but we are in a strong position.”
Delecour, Gordon, and the 306 Maxi IKE will next head to Rallye Elba for the penultimate round of the FIA EHRC Pre-2000, scheduled from September 24 to 26 on the beautiful Tuscan island. The team will skip the Ulster round in the UK in August - marking their third dropped score after Costa Brava and Ypres - to focus on a testing session ahead of the final two championship events.
In the photo: Delecour / Gordon in the 306 Maxi IKE Racing at Rallye Weiz – Andrea Zivian at Rallye Weiz prize giving ceremony
