DELECOUR KEEN ON WORLD RALLYCROSS

Ex-world Rally Championship star Francois Delecour says he would welcome an opportunity to race a modern day rallycross Supercar in the FIA World Rallycross Championship.

The Frenchman made a one-off appearance in a Ford RS200 at the French round of the FIA European Rallycross Championship in 1992, deputising for Norwegian Martin Schanche, and finished third. Delecour attended the French round of World RX in Loheac last weekend to compete in a series of Pro Truck demonstration races.

“It [rallycross] is very professional now,” said the Frenchman. “It was difficult for me to realise how it was so professional, but I’ve seen all the teams at Loheac and it’s big business now. I would like to race a Supercar. It’s an opportunity I would really like, but it’s not easy to find the budget. I’m still competitive and I love to drive. I’m still doing rally when I can and it would be nice to drive here.”

Delecour has sampled a current Supercar. Last season he tested an Albatec Racing Peugeot 208. “Now it’s a bit different to when I raced in rallycross,” he said. “I don’t have much experience. The Peugeot was an incredible car. I was impressed by the torque. The chassis is good but the torque was unbelievable – I was very impressed by the engine. It was easy to drive, but for sure there is also the spirit of the racing [to consider]. I saw [Sebastien] Loeb when he lost some places in a race here: it shows rallycross is very competitive.”