Ulysse Delsaux will be back on the grid this year with RDV Competition, and he’s expecting to score better results on his third season in the EuroNASCAR PRO (ENPRO) class.
The 2019 season saw Delsaux made his return to the ENPRO class after a highly successful return to the EuroNASCAR 2 (EN2) class in 2017 and 2018, with Delsaux claiming his first career NASCAR victory in 2017 before he went on to win the EN2 title and played an important factor in RDV Competition’s Teams Championship triumph in 2018.
As a result of his successes in EN2, expectations were relatively high for the young Frenchman following the announcement of his return to the ENPRO class, but the results are left to be desired as he only scored four Top-10 finishes throughout 2019.
Despite this, 11 Top-15 finishes meant that his finishing results are consistent enough to secure a 9th place finish in the overall standings, tying the result that he achieved in the 2016 season.
For Delsaux, it was a year of learning in 2019. His goal this year is simple: Score more Top 10 finishes and be able to fight in the Top 5 positions.
“The 2019 season was a year of learning to prepare for 2020,” said Delsaux in an interview with us. “My goal will be to be in the top 10 more often and to fight for the top 5.”
For the 2020 season, Delsaux will be bringing a change to his RDV Competition machine. The No. 36 – number chosen as an inversion of 63, his father Emmanuel’s birth year and the year where his idol Jim Clark won his first Formula One title – that he ran last year will be replaced with the No. 10, as he wants to represent his hometown Troyes in the series.
“I changed number to represent my department, the department of Aube in Troyes,” said Delsaux on the number change for his GCS Chevrolet Camaro this year. “I want to represent the department, I also put a French flag on the front of my car to represent France.”
The number change will not be the only change that Delsaux will experience this year. Valellunga’s addition to the calendar, the swap between Hockenheim and Zolder, and the expanded Playoffs system are changes that Delsaux and everyone in the field will experience this year, something that will bring a change to how the drivers and teams prepare themselves for the 2020 season.
“I train on simulator and I feel that Vallelunga will be a real challenge and a good track for European NASCAR. The Hockenheim circuit is my favorite track of the season and the last race of the season and I hope to achieve good results there,” said Delsaux on the changes in the calendar for this year.
Delsaux, a driver that has successfully overcome his high-functioning autism to become a NASCAR champion, will continue to work hard to achieve his goals in the sport as he welcomes the increased level of competition in EuroNASCAR.
“The level goes up more and more whether it’s in Elite 1 (EuroNASCAR PRO) or Elite 2 (EuroNASCAR 2). It is a good thing for European NASCAR because it keeps growing. I will work a lot physically and mentally to reach my goals,” concludes the 22-year old Frenchman.
Disclaimer: Unless noted, all photos used in this article are courtesy of NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Stephane Azemard.