François Delecour will drive a Peugeot 306 Maxi in competition this season, contesting the FIA European Historic Rally Championship’s Pre-2000 category.
Delecour drove the iconic 306 Maxi in period from 1996-1998 for Peugeot Sport, contesting both the World and French championships.
A change in historic rally regulations means cars built before the year 2000 can now compete, paving the way for Delecour to take on this challenge with IKE Racing.
“I’m very happy to take on this new challenge in the FIA European Historic Rally Championship,” said Delecour. “With the recent expansion of Appendix K regulations, it’s fantastic to see cars like the Peugeot 306 Maxi now eligible to compete, which makes this opportunity even more special.
“The Peugeot 306 Maxi is a car that is very special to me as I was an official Peugeot driver in the ’90s and became French champion with this car, which makes this return even more meaningful.
Delecour's last rally season in a 306 Maxi was 1998
“What makes this car truly unique is not only its performance, but also its character and the engine sound, simply unforgettable. IKE team has done a fantastic job preparing the car, and I believe we have everything we need to be competitive. I’m not coming here just to enjoy the experience – I want to fight at the front.
“The FIA European Historic Rally Championships are very competitive, which makes this challenge even more exciting. I’m really looking forward to getting started and seeing what we can achieve together.”
Delecour will compete in a separate class than Jari-Matti Latvala, whose Toyota Celica ST185 fits into the Pre-1992 category.
The Frenchman missed the season-opening Rally Costa Brava, but will tackle upcoming events in Vlatava, Chablais, Ypres, Weiz, Ulster, Storico and Sanremo.
FIA Historic Championships & Committee Manager, Mathias Doutreleau, added: “It is fantastic to welcome a driver of François Delecour’s calibre back to the FIA European Historic Rally Championship. His presence, together with the inclusion of cars like the Peugeot 306 Maxi following the evolution of Appendix K, highlights the continued growth and relevance of the series. We look forward to seeing him and IKE Racing compete across the season.”
