The Rallye International du Valais, traditionally the final event of the Swiss Championship season, will this year welcome François Delecour as its guest of honour. Thanks to the partnership between Renault Switzerland and AVSR (the event organizers), and with the technical support of Renault Sport, “Freine Tard” (the late braker, as he is known in France) will start the event in a PH Sport-prepared Renault Clio Super 1600, previously seen at the Rouergue Rally, but driven on that occasion by Jean-François Bérenguer. 

Paired with Fabrice Gordon, François will get his first glimpse of the car at the shakedown on the morning of Thursday, October 27. But he already has an idea of what to expect from the Clio: “I tested various Super 1600s a while back for a car magazine. The Renault seemed to me to be the easiest to drive and the front-wheel drive was excellent. It felt like I was driving a much bigger car! Which is why I’m very pleased to be competing in a rally in this Clio. The Super 1600s are ‘tough’ cars, almost more difficult to drive than the WRCs. But I’m in great shape and that’s why I agreed to take on this challenge.”

Up against the top Swiss specialists, François adopts a simple, relaxed approach: “I’m not under any serious pressure. I’ve got to get used to things, first of all. And I’ve not raced in this rally before. I know there are some amazing special stages, such as les Cols: thirty-nine kilometres, including ten or so on gravel! I can’t wait to get out there.”

With five scratch wins from six rallies, Olivier Gillet comes to Martigny in relaxed mood. Having already secured the title at la Ronde Jurassienne, the man in the Balbosca-prepared Clio Super 1600 can fully concentrate on trying to win this event for the first time. Last year, he narrowly missed out, finishing as runner-up to Italian driver Piero Liatti.

François Delecour

• Born on August 29, 1962
• 98 WRC rallies (Monte-Carlo 1984 – Great Britain 2002)
• Official driver for Ford, Peugeot and Mitsubishi
• 20 WRC podiums finishes, including 4 wins (Portugal, Tour de Corse and Spain in 1993, Monte-Carlo in 1994)
• 1993 World Rally Championship runner-up