History 1980s

1981 Tour de Corse – Rallye de France (France)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1981 Tour de Corse – Rallye de France

Date: April 30 – May 2, 1981

Host Country: France (Corsica)

Surface: Asphalt

Total Distance: 1,144.60 km (competitive)

Total Starters: Approx. 80 crews

Total Finishers: 27 crews

The 1981 Tour de Corse was a grueling all-asphalt test around the mountainous island of Corsica, notorious for its endless hairpins, narrow roads, and unforgiving terrain. In a dramatic and emotional performance, Bernard Darniche—already a Corsican specialist—delivered a flawless drive to win in the aging but still ferocious Lancia Stratos HF. His win would stand as the final WRC victory for the legendary Stratos, cementing its place in rallying history.

Route

Ajaccio to Corte: Tight, twisty tarmac with steep drop-offs and frequent elevation changes—brutal on brakes and concentration.
Bastia Loops: Fast tarmac through pine forests, with sudden transitions from grip to polished corners.
Night Stages: Visibility and fatigue were major concerns, especially in blind crests and decreasing radius turns.

The rally route wound through the narrow, cliff-lined roads of Corsica, connecting towns such as Ajaccio, Bastia, Corte, and Porto-Vecchio. Precision, rather than power, defined the victor on these unforgiving mountain roads.

Weather conditions remained mostly dry, which helped mitigate the island’s tire wear and minimized the unpredictability often brought by springtime Corsican showers.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Bernard Darniche & Alain Mahé · Lancia Stratos HF
2nd Place
Jean Ragnotti & Jean-Marc Andrié · Renault 5 Turbo
3rd Place
Guy Fréquelin & Jean Todt · Talbot Sunbeam Lotus

Darniche combined blistering speed with decades of Corsican experience to edge out Ragnotti’s turbocharged Renault. His mastery of the Stratos’ unique balance made the difference on Corsica’s narrow and cambered asphalt lanes.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Corner Saturation: Thousands of turns tested crew stamina and pacenote precision to the limit.
  • Tire Wear: The coarse asphalt surface punished soft compounds—managing heat cycles was essential.
  • Mechanical Fatigue: Brakes, gearboxes, and suspension were constantly stressed by the terrain’s vertical and lateral forces.

The 1981 Tour de Corse was a fitting farewell to the Lancia Stratos in WRC competition—Darniche’s emotional and unrelenting push through the island’s serpentine roads marked the end of an era with one final, unforgettable victory.

← Previous Event 1981 Safari Rally (Kenya)
Back to Events Index
1981 Acropolis Rally (Greece) Next Event →

Watch rallies anywhere — bypass region blocks with NordVPN.

Fast servers for HD streams Servers in 60+ countries 30-day money-back

Unblock coverage — Save up to 77% + 3 months free

Sponsored link. Using our partner links helps support Compromised Internals at no extra cost to you.