Delecour plans Monte Fiesta run

Francois Delecour is planning a shock return to the World Rally Championship when he contests Rallye Monte-Carlo, the opening event of the 2012 season.

Delecour, who won the legendary Tarmac rally in 1994, is set to drive a Ford Fiesta RS WRC run by M-Sport, with whom he tackled 13 rounds of the world championship during the 2001 season.

“I’m very, very super happy to have this opportunity to do the Monte Carlo Rally in a top car again, at my age,” said the 49-year-old French ace. “For me, it’s learning all over again because I don’t know anything about this type of car or how it could be: everything is completely new. But I think I should be able to do two days of testing in January and that will help me a lot.”

Delecour, who has attracted support from Visit Romania, tackled the centenary edition of Rallye Monte-Carlo earlier this year when it counted as a round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge. He finished fifth overall in a Peugeot 207 Super 2000 [pictured above], claiming a stage win in the process with co-driver Dominique Savignoni, who will partner him on next year’s event.

“The car I had this year was not a top specification car, actually a long way from that, but I was quite happy with my performance,” said Delecour. “I’ve also always been keeping myself fit and doing a lot of sport, so I think I am still in good shape physically.”

Rallye Monte-Carlo runs from 17-22 January, 2012.