{{Short description|Motorsporting event first held in 1956}} {{redirect|Rallye de France|the French round of the WRC run during the 2009–2014 seasons|Rallye de France–Alsace}} {{Infobox recurring event | name = Tour de Corse | native_name = | native_name_lang = | logo = | logo_caption = | image = | caption = | status = Active | genre = Motorsporting event | date = | frequency = Annual | venue = | location = [[Corsica]] | coordinates = | country = [[France]] | years_active = | first = 1956 | founder_name = | last = | participants = | attendance = | area = | website = | footnotes = }} [[Image:Gareth Jones - 2008 Rallye de France SS10.jpg|thumb|Gareth Jones driving a [[Subaru Impreza#Motorsports|Subaru Impreza WRC]] at the [[2008 Tour de Corse|2008 rally]].]] The '''Tour de Corse''' is a [[rallying|rally]] first held in 1956 on the island of [[Corsica]]. It was the French round of the [[World Rally Championship]] from the inaugural [[1973 World Rally Championship season|1973 season]] until [[2008 World Rally Championship season|2008]], was part of the [[Intercontinental Rally Challenge]] from 2011 to 2012, and finally returned to WRC in [[2015 World Rally Championship season|2015]]. The name "Tour de Corse" refers to the fact that in the early days it was run around the island; nowadays it only features roads around [[Ajaccio]]. The rally is held on asphalt roads, and is known as the "Ten Thousand Turns Rally" because of the twisty mountain roads.
Several drivers have been killed during the event, including fatalities at 3 consecutive events. [[Attilio Bettega]], driving a [[Lancia 037|Lancia 037 Rally]], died during the fourth [[Special stage (rallying)|special stage]] of the [[1985 World Rally Championship season|1985]] rally, ''Zérubia-Santa Giulia''. On [[1986 World Rally Championship|May 2, 1986]], exactly a year later, [[Henri Toivonen]] and his co-driver [[Sergio Cresto]] died in their [[Lancia Delta S4]] during the 18th stage of the event, ''Corte-Taverna''. Almost a year later in 1987, co-driver French Corsican Jean-Michel Argenti and driver Jean Marchini fatally crashed similarly to those before them.
The first running of the rally was won by the Belgian female driver Gilberte Thirion in a [[Renault Dauphine]]. The abysmal weather—including snowdrifts,sleet and ice in mountain roads and passes—proved too much for powerful heavy cars (including heavily "souped up" Jaguar sedans), while Gilberte Thirion used to the best the light, agile, racing version of the Dauphine and took advantage of its oversteering characteristics of the car to achieve a resounding victory. She is said to have commented her triumph by this tongue-in-cheek statement: "The racing Dauphine: Oh! a fantastic car!: Nothing can stop it, and specially not even its brakes", a joke that would have a very long life.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-07-11 |title=Les femmes pilotes. Gilberte Thirion : la Belge qui a gagné le premier Tour de Corse |url=https://www.lalsace.fr/magazine-automobile/2021/07/11/gilberte-thirion-la-belge-qui-a-gagne-le-premier-tour-de-corse |access-date=2026-05-02 |website=www.lalsace.fr |language=FR-fr}}</ref>
Two drivers have won the event a record six times; [[Bernard Darniche]] (1970, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1981) and [[Didier Auriol]] (1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1995). The only non-French drivers to win the event more than once are [[Sandro Munari]], [[Markku Alén]], [[Colin McRae]] and [[Thierry Neuville]].
It has been largely popularized that Toivonen and Cresto's deaths sealed the fate of Group B rallying due to the realization that the cars had too much pure power and lack of containment, proving to be dangerous and potentially fatal to spectators.
==Winners== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;" |- ! style="text-align: center" | Season !width=200| Driver ! Co-driver !width=200| Car !Series ! Event report |- ! 1956 | {{Flagicon|Belgium}} [[Gilberte Thirion]] | {{Flagicon|Switzerland}} [[Nadège Ferrier]] | [[Renault Dauphine]] | rowspan="14" |Non Championship | [[1956 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! 1957 | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Michel Nicol]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Roger de la Geneste]] | [[Alfa Romeo Giulietta (750/101)|Alfa Romeo Giulietta]] | [[1957 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! 1958 | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Guy Monraisse]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Jacques Feret]] | [[Renault Dauphine]] | [[1958 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! 1959 | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Pierre Orsini]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Jean-Baptiste Canocini]] | [[Renault Dauphine]] | [[1959 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! 1960 | {{Flagicon|FRG}} [[Herbert Linge]] | {{Flagicon|FRG}} [[Paul-Ernst Strähle]] | [[Porsche 356|Porsche SC 90]] | [[1960 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! 1961 | {{Flagicon|France}} [[René Trautmann]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Jean-Claude Ogier]] | [[Citroën DS19]] | [[1961 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! 1962 | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Pierre Orsini]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Jean-Baptiste Canocini]] | [[Renault Dauphine]] | [[1962 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! 1963 | {{Flagicon|France}} [[René Trautmann]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Jean-Claude Ogier]] | [[Citroën DS19]] | [[1963 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! 1964 | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Jean Vinatier]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Roger Masson]] | [[Renault 8 Gordini]] | [[1964 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! 1965 | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Pierre Orsini]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Jean-Baptiste Canocini]] | [[Renault 8 Gordini]] | [[1965 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! 1966 | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Jean-François Piot]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Jean-François Jacob]] | [[Renault 8 Gordini]] | [[1966 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! 1967 | {{Flagicon|Italy}} [[Sandro Munari]] | {{Flagicon|Italy}} [[Luciano Lombardini]] | [[Lancia Fulvia HF|Lancia Fulvia HF Coupé]] | [[1967 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! 1968 | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Jean-Claude Andruet]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Maurice Gelin]] | [[Alpine A110|Alpine-Renault A110]] | [[1968 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! 1969 | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Gérard Larrousse]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Maurice Gelin]] | [[Porsche 911|Porsche 911 R]] | [[1969 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! 1970 | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Bernard Darniche]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Bernard Demange]] | [[Alpine A110|Alpine-Renault A110 1800]] |[[European Rally Championship|ERC]] | [[1970 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! 1971 | colspan="5" align="center" |'''Rally cancelled''' |- ! 1972 | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Jean-Claude Andruet]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Michèle 'Biche' Espinosi-Petit]] | [[Alpine A110|Alpine-Renault A110 1800]] |[[European Rally Championship|ERC]] | [[1972 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! [[1973 World Rally Championship season|1973]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Jean-Pierre Nicolas]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Michel Vial]] | [[Alpine A110|Alpine-Renault A110 1800]] | rowspan="23" |[[World Rally Championship|WRC]] | [[1973 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! [[1974 World Rally Championship season|1974]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Jean-Claude Andruet]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Michèle 'Biche' Espinosi-Petit]] | [[Lancia Stratos HF]] | [[1974 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! [[1975 World Rally Championship season|1975]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Bernard Darniche]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Alain Mahé]] | [[Lancia Stratos HF]] | [[1975 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! [[1976 World Rally Championship season|1976]] | {{Flagicon|Italy}} [[Sandro Munari]] | {{Flagicon|Italy}} [[Silvio Maiga]] | [[Lancia Stratos HF]] | [[1976 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! [[1977 World Rally Championship season|1977]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Bernard Darniche]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Alain Mahé]] | [[Fiat 131 Abarth]] | [[1977 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! [[1978 World Rally Championship season|1978]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Bernard Darniche]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Alain Mahé]] | [[Fiat 131 Abarth]] | [[1978 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! [[1979 World Rally Championship season|1979]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Bernard Darniche]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Alain Mahé]] | [[Lancia Stratos HF]] | [[1979 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! [[1980 World Rally Championship season|1980]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Jean-Luc Thérier]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Michel Vial]] | [[Porsche 911 SC]] | [[1980 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! [[1981 World Rally Championship season|1981]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Bernard Darniche]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Alain Mahé]] | [[Lancia Stratos HF]] | [[1981 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! [[1982 World Rally Championship season|1982]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Jean Ragnotti]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Jean-Marc Andrié]] | [[Renault 5 Turbo]] | [[1982 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! [[1983 World Rally Championship season|1983]] | {{Flagicon|Finland}} [[Markku Alén]] | {{Flagicon|Finland}} [[Ilkka Kivimäki]] | [[Lancia 037|Lancia 037 Rally]] | [[1983 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! [[1984 World Rally Championship season|1984]] | {{Flagicon|Finland}} [[Markku Alén]] | {{Flagicon|Finland}} [[Ilkka Kivimäki]] | [[Lancia 037|Lancia 037 Rally]] | [[1984 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! [[1985 World Rally Championship season|1985]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Jean Ragnotti]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Pierre Thimonier]] | [[Renault 5 Turbo|Renault R5 Maxi Turbo]] | [[1985 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! [[1986 World Rally Championship season|1986]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Bruno Saby]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Jean-François Fauchille]] | [[Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 E2]] | [[1986 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! [[1987 World Rally Championship season|1987]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Bernard Béguin]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Jean-Jacques Lenne]] | [[BMW M3]] | [[1987 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! [[1988 World Rally Championship season|1988]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Didier Auriol]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Bernard Occelli]] | [[Ford Sierra RS Cosworth]] | [[1988 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! [[1989 World Rally Championship season|1989]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Didier Auriol]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Bernard Occelli]] | [[Lancia Delta Group A|Lancia Delta Integrale]] | [[1989 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! [[1990 World Rally Championship season|1990]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Didier Auriol]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Bernard Occelli]] | [[Lancia Delta Group A|Lancia Delta Integrale 16V]] | [[1990 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! [[1991 World Rally Championship season|1991]] | {{Flagicon|Spain}} [[Carlos Sainz Sr.|Carlos Sainz]] | {{Flagicon|Spain}} [[Luís Moya]] | [[Toyota Celica GT-Four|Toyota Celica GT-Four ST165]] | [[1991 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! [[1992 World Rally Championship season|1992]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Didier Auriol]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Bernard Occelli]] | [[Lancia Delta Group A|Lancia Delta HF Integrale]] | [[1992 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! [[1993 World Rally Championship season|1993]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[François Delecour]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Daniel Grataloup]] | [[Ford Escort RS Cosworth]] | [[1993 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! [[1994 World Rally Championship season|1994]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Didier Auriol]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Bernard Occelli]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ewrc-results.com/profile/669-didier-auriol/|title=Didier Auriol - rally profile eWRC-results.com|website=eWRC-results.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ewrc-results.com/coprofile/7380-bernard-occelli/|title=Bernard Occelli - rally profile eWRC-results.com|website=eWRC-results.com}}</ref> | [[Toyota Celica GT-Four|Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD]] | [[1994 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! [[1995 World Rally Championship season|1995]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Didier Auriol]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Denis Giraudet]] | [[Toyota Celica GT-Four|Toyota Celica GT-Four ST205]] | [[1995 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! [[FIA 2-Litre World Rally Cup|1996]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Philippe Bugalski]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Jean-Paul Chiaroni]] | [[Renault Mégane|Renault Mégane Maxi]] |[[FIA 2-Litre World Rally Cup|2-Litre World Rally Cup]] | [[1996 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! [[1997 World Rally Championship season|1997]] | {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Colin McRae]] | {{Flagicon|GBR}} [[Nicky Grist]] | [[Subaru Impreza WRC|Subaru Impreza WRC 97]] | rowspan="12" |[[World Rally Championship|WRC]] | [[1997 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! [[1998 World Rally Championship season|1998]] | {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Colin McRae]] | {{Flagicon|GBR}} [[Nicky Grist]] | [[Subaru Impreza WRC|Subaru Impreza WRC 98]] | [[1998 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! [[1999 World Rally Championship season|1999]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Philippe Bugalski]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Jean-Paul Chiaroni]] | [[Citroën Xsara|Citroën Xsara Kit Car]] | [[1999 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! [[2000 World Rally Championship season|2000]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Gilles Panizzi]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Hervé Panizzi]] | [[Peugeot 206 WRC]] | [[2000 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! [[2001 World Rally Championship season|2001]] | {{Flagicon|Spain}} [[Jesús Puras]] | {{Flagicon|Spain}} [[Marc Martí]] | [[Citroën Xsara WRC]] | [[2001 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! [[2002 World Rally Championship season|2002]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Gilles Panizzi]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Hervé Panizzi]] | [[Peugeot 206 WRC]] | [[2002 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! [[2003 World Rally Championship season|2003]] | {{Flagicon|Norway}} [[Petter Solberg]] | {{Flagicon|GBR}} [[Phil Mills]] | [[Subaru Impreza WRC|Subaru Impreza WRC2003]] | [[2003 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! [[2004 World Rally Championship season|2004]] | {{Flagicon|Estonia}} [[Markko Märtin]] | {{Flagicon|UK}} [[Michael Park (rally co-driver)|Michael Park]] | [[Ford Focus RS WRC|Ford Focus RS WRC 04]] | [[2004 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! [[2005 World Rally Championship season|2005]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Sébastien Loeb]] | {{Flagicon|Monaco}} [[Daniel Elena]] | [[Citroën Xsara WRC]] | [[2005 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! [[2006 World Rally Championship season|2006]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Sébastien Loeb]] | {{Flagicon|Monaco}} [[Daniel Elena]] | [[Citroën Xsara WRC]] | [[2006 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! [[2007 World Rally Championship season|2007]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Sébastien Loeb]] | {{Flagicon|Monaco}} [[Daniel Elena]] | [[Citroën C4 WRC]] | [[2007 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! [[2008 World Rally Championship season|2008]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Sébastien Loeb]] | {{Flagicon|Monaco}} [[Daniel Elena]] | [[Citroën C4 WRC]] | [[2008 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! 2009 | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Pascal Trojani]] | {{Flagicon|France}} [[Francis Mazotti]] | [[Peugeot 307 WRC]] |[[France Cup (rallying)|France Cup]]<ref>{{cite web |date=8 November 2009 |title=results Tour de Corse – Rallye des 10000 Virages 2009 |url=http://www.ewrc-results.com/final.php?e=859 |access-date=25 June 2013 |publisher=eWRC-results.com}}</ref> | [[2009 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! 2010 | colspan="5" align="center" |'''Rally cancelled''' |- ! [[2011 Intercontinental Rally Challenge season|2011]] | {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Thierry Neuville]] | {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Nicolas Gilsoul]] | [[Peugeot 207 S2000]] | rowspan="2" |[[Intercontinental Rally Challenge|IRC]] | [[2011 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! [[2012 Intercontinental Rally Challenge season|2012]] | {{flagicon|Spain}} [[Dani Sordo]] | {{flagicon|Spain}} [[Carlos del Barrio]] | [[Mini Cooper S2000]] | [[2012 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! [[2013 European Rally Championship season|2013]] | {{flagicon|France}} [[Bryan Bouffier]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ewrc-results.com/final.php?e=7310&t=Tour-de-Corse-2013 |title=56. Tour de Corse 2013 results |publisher=eWRC-results.com |date=18 May 2013 |access-date=25 June 2013}}</ref> | {{flagicon|France}} [[Xavier Panseri]] | [[Peugeot 207 S2000]] | rowspan="2" |[[European Rally Championship|ERC]] | [[2013 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! [[2014 European Rally Championship season|2014]] | {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Stéphane Sarrazin]] | {{flagicon|FRA}} Jacques-Julien Renucci | [[Ford Fiesta RRC]] | [[2014 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! [[2015 World Rally Championship season|2015]] | {{Flagicon|Finland}} [[Jari-Matti Latvala]] | {{Flagicon|Finland}} [[Miikka Anttila]] | [[Volkswagen Polo R WRC]] | rowspan="5" |[[World Rally Championship|WRC]] | [[2015 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! [[2016 World Rally Championship season|2016]] | {{Flagicon|FRA}} [[Sébastien Ogier]] | {{Flagicon|FRA}} [[Julien Ingrassia]] | [[Volkswagen Polo R WRC]] | [[2016 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! [[2017 World Rally Championship|2017]] | {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Thierry Neuville]] | {{nowrap|{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Nicolas Gilsoul]]}} | {{nowrap|[[Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC]]}} | [[2017 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! [[2018 World Rally Championship|2018]] | {{Flagicon|FRA}} [[Sébastien Ogier]] | {{Flagicon|FRA}} [[Julien Ingrassia]] | [[Ford Fiesta WRC]] | [[2018 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! [[2019 World Rally Championship|2019]] | {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Thierry Neuville]] | {{nowrap|{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Nicolas Gilsoul]]}} | {{nowrap|[[Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC]]}} | [[2019 Tour de Corse|Report]] |- ! 2020 | colspan="5" align="center" |'''Rally not held''' |- |}
===Multiple winners=== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" |- ! Wins ! Driver ! Years won |- ! rowspan=2| 6 | {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Bernard Darniche]] | 1970, 1975, 1977–1979, 1981 |- | {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Didier Auriol]] | 1988–1990, 1992, 1994–1995 |- ! 4 | {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Sébastien Loeb]] | 2005–2008 |- ! rowspan=3| 3 | {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Pierre Orsini]] | 1959, 1962, 1969 |- | {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Jean-Claude Andruet]] | 1968, 1972, 1974 |- | {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Thierry Neuville]] | 2011, 2017, 2019 |- ! rowspan=8| 2 | {{flagicon|FRA}} [[René Trautmann]] | 1961, 1963 |- | {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Sandro Munari]] | 1967, 1976 |- | {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Jean Ragnotti]] | 1982, 1985 |- | {{flagicon|FIN}} [[Markku Alén]] | 1983–1984 |- | {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Philippe Bugalski]] | 1996, 1999 |- | {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Colin McRae]] | 1997–1998 |- | {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Gilles Panizzi]] | 2000, 2002 |- | {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Sébastien Ogier]] | 2016, 2018 |- |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Tour de Corse}} * [http://www.tourdecorse.com/ Official site] * [https://www.ewrc-results.com/events/4/ Tour de Corse] at eWRC-results
{{Tour de Corse}} {{World rallies}}
[[Category:Tour de Corse| ]] [[Category:European Rally Championship rallies|Corse]] [[Category:Intercontinental Rally Challenge rallies|Corse]] [[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1956]]