François Delecour’s passion for rallying developed at an early age when he witnessed the spectacular exploits of French drivers as they powered machinery over roads close to his home village of Cassel. He was just 14 years old when he first started to drive and his competition career began just five years later at the wheel of an Autobianchi A112 in 1981.

It was not until 1984 that he contested his first World Championship rally, the famous Monte-Carlo, but his focus was on the Peugeot Challenge, the popular one-make series where he began to make a name for himself and won the Promising Young Driver of the Year Award in 1987.

In 1988 he was offered a works 205 drive with Peugeot and, while he contested a handful of rallies in a privately entered BMW M3 the same year, he stayed with the French manufacturer for 1989. Co-driven by Christian "Tilber", he regularly beat more powerful cars to finish fourth in France’s premier series. In his final year with Peugeot, 1990, his best World Championship result was Formula 2 victory and ninth overall in Monte-Carlo.

Despite an outright win to his credit, Ford signed François to drive a Sierra Cosworth in the 1991 World Championship. In his first event, the Monte-Carlo Rally, he spearheaded a fearless charge over the icy alpine roads to build up a 30 second lead. With victory in sight, a suspension joint broke on the final Col de Turini stage, dropping him to third. He quickly adapted to the new pressures and ended 1991 by finishing fourth in Sanremo, third in Catalunya, where he was partnered for the first time by Daniel Grataloup, and sixth on the RAC Rally.

His progress continued throughout 1992. Having led in Portugal before engine failure sidelined the Frenchman, he went on to finish second in Corsica and third in Sanremo, where he not only beat Italian team-mate Miki Biasion but demonstrated his prowess on gravel.

1993 was one of his most successful seasons, a host a points scoring finishes finally blossoming into outright victories. Wins in Portugal, Corsica and Spain, coupled with second places in Monte-Carlo and New Zealand left him fighting for the world title in Britain. However, the title would be decided on an event he had tackled just once before, and he finished fourth, securing the runners-up spot in the Championship.

The 1994 season was one of great highs and lows. Victory in Monte-Carlo was the realisation of a life-long ambition and although his thoughts turned to winning the world championship, his aspirations were ruined by an off-event accident. The leg injuries sustained put him out of rallying until August’s 1000 Lakes where he bravely returned to the Ford team and finished fourth.

Now co-driven by Catherine François, Delecour continued to drive for Ford in 1995 and his best result was second in Monte-Carlo. He completed the season with victory on the traditional end of year invitation event, the Race of Champions on Gran Canaria.

In 1996, François drove for both Peugeot and Ford, and maintained his excellent Monte-Carlo record by finishing second overall and first of the two-wheel drive cars in his 306 Maxi. Much of the year was spent developing the car, but victories in Antibes and Cevennes earned him third in the French Championship.

In 1998 he contested four asphalt rounds of the World Championship in the 306, finishing second overall and top two-wheel drive car in Corsica, and second in both Monte-Carlo and Spain. However it was the news of Peugeot’s world rally car project and his contract to contest a six-event programme in 1999 that was the best news of the year.

Teething problems were evident, but the following year he was instrumental in helping Peugeot win the Manufacturers’ title with no fewer than seven points-scoring finishes, including second in both Corsica and Sanremo.

Released at the end of the season, François was quickly re-signed by Ford where he played a fine supporting role in the team’s third Focus. Points in seven of the 13 events he contested, including a fine third overall in Monte-Carlo, again underlined the Frenchman’s ability on all surfaces.

François and co-driver Daniel Grataloup join Mitsubishi Ralliart for 2002 and will contest all 14 rounds of the series in the Lancer Evolution WRC.