History 1980s

1988 Tour de Corse – Rallye de France (Corsica)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1988 Tour de Corse – Rallye de France (Corsica)

Date: May 5–7, 1988

Start Location: Ajaccio, Corsica

Finish Location: Ajaccio, Corsica

Total Distance: 1,010 km of special stages

Surface: Asphalt

The 1988 Tour de Corse tested every aspect of asphalt rallying—precision, stamina, and commitment. Didier Auriol, in just his second season at the WRC’s top level, delivered a flawless performance in the Ford Sierra RS Cosworth. Known for its unending corners and narrow cliffside routes, Corsica rewarded Auriol’s technical finesse and tire strategy, giving him his maiden win and announcing his arrival among rally’s elite.

Route

Vico–Sagliolo: Fast but narrow descent with blind corners and unforgiving drop-offs.
Zicavo–Aullène: Tight mountain switchbacks where car placement and braking precision made all the difference.
Sartène–Propriano: Classic Corsican rhythm stage—flowing tarmac with undulating elevation changes and deceptive grip.

Corsica’s tarmac maze challenged both drivers and co-drivers with its relentless pace and minimal margin for error:

With warm spring weather and clean asphalt, the rally rewarded drivers who could attack with confidence while preserving tires and brakes over long loops.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Didier Auriol & Bernard Occelli · Ford Sierra RS Cosworth
2nd Place
Bruno Saby & Jean-François Fauchille · Lancia Delta HF 4WD
3rd Place
François Chatriot & Michel Périn · BMW M3

Auriol’s victory made him the first Frenchman to win Corsica since Jean Ragnotti, thrilling local fans and proving that the Sierra—despite its rear-wheel-drive layout—could still win on the right surface in the right hands.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Unending Corners: Drivers faced thousands of bends per day—mental fatigue was as big a threat as mechanical wear.
  • Brake Management: Long downhill sections strained braking systems—especially on rear-wheel-drive cars without engine braking support.
  • Co-driver Precision: Fast and accurate pace notes were vital—any delay could ruin a rhythm-based stage flow.

Didier Auriol’s breakthrough win in Corsica marked the beginning of a new era in French rallying—his perfect mix of speed and control on home asphalt put the WRC on notice.

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