History Event 1980s

1987 Tour de Corse – Rallye de France (Corsica)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1987 Tour de Corse – Rallye de France (Corsica)

Date: May 8–10, 1987

Start Location: Ajaccio, Corsica

Finish Location: Ajaccio, Corsica

Total Distance: 1,032 km of special stages

Surface: Asphalt

The 1987 Tour de Corse demanded surgical precision across thousands of corners on Corsica’s unforgiving mountain tarmac. Bruno Saby, one of France’s top asphalt specialists, delivered a masterful performance in the Lancia Delta HF 4WD. With narrow roads, no run-off, and constant steering input required, the rally rewarded smoothness and mental endurance. Saby held off strong competition in a tightly contested event that proved Group A cars could shine on pure tarmac just as well as their monstrous predecessors.

Route

Vico–Sagliolo: Fast and technical with cambered edges and cliffside drop-offs.
Palneca–Zicavo: Endless switchbacks and tight compression zones that tested brakes and balance.
Sartène–Propriano: Smooth yet deceptive, rewarded precision and punished hesitation.

Corsica’s stages offered elevation, complexity, and minimal margin for error:

Heat and wear were major factors, with tire degradation and brake fade a constant concern through the event’s long, twisty loops.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Bruno Saby & Jean-François Fauchille · Lancia Delta HF 4WD
2nd Place
François Chatriot & Michel Périn · BMW M3
3rd Place
Yves Loubet & Jean-Marc Andrié · Lancia Delta HF 4WD

Saby’s victory highlighted the Delta’s versatility on all surfaces, and Corsica cemented his status as one of rallying’s top tarmac specialists.

Car Highlights

  • Lancia Delta HF 4WD: Proved adaptable even on pure asphalt with strong grip, agile steering, and exceptional traction out of tight corners.
  • BMW M3: Rear-wheel drive tarmac weapon, lighter and more precise in fast sections but lacked traction on tighter climbs.
  • Renault 11 Turbo: Competitive in early stages but fell off pace in longer loops due to heat and mechanical stress.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Endless Corners: Nearly every stage featured constant direction changes, perfect pace notes were critical.
  • Brake Management: Fade became a major issue on long descents, teams had to carefully balance speed and heat.
  • Mental Stamina: The technical demands of Corsica required intense focus over hours of precision driving.

The 1987 Tour de Corse was a rally of concentration and composure, Bruno Saby’s victory proved that pure driving finesse still ruled on the twisting roads of Corsica.

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