French rallying legend François Delecour has confirmed that he is set to compete in the FIA European Historic Rally Championship’s Pre-2000 category with IKE Racing. He’ll be behind the wheel of one the a Peugeot 306 Maxi – a model newly eligible under revised Appendix K regulations.
Delecour’s return centres on a car closely associated with his career peak. As a works Peugeot driver in the 1990s, he secured the French title in the 306 Maxi, a high-revving, naturally aspirated front-wheel-drive icon that became one of the defining rally cars of its era. Its inclusion in the EHRC reflects a broader expansion of eligibility rules, allowing more modern historic machinery to compete alongside traditional entries.
‘I’m very happy to take on this new challenge in the FIA European Historic Rally Championships,’ 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.
‘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 car itself has undergone an extensive development programme by IKE Racing ahead of the season, with a new technical partnership with Michelin forming a key part of the package. The move signals a clear intent to challenge at the front in what has become an increasingly competitive category.
Delecour concluded: ‘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.’
If you want to be reminded of why the front-wheel-drive 306 Maxi won so many hearts, here’s a video of the car in action:
