History 1980s

1989 Tour de Corse – Rallye de France (Corsica)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1989 Tour de Corse – Rallye de France (Corsica)

Date: May 5–7, 1989

Start Location: Ajaccio, Corsica

Finish Location: Ajaccio, Corsica

Total Distance: 1,010 km of special stages

Surface: Asphalt

The 1989 Tour de Corse delivered another brutal test of precision and mental stamina across Corsica’s famed ribbon-like roads. Didier Auriol, a Corsican expert, repeated his winning form with a flawless performance in the Lancia Delta Integrale. The rally’s demanding pace, relentless cornering, and zero-margin tarmac made for high attrition and rewarded absolute commitment—traits Auriol displayed in full.

Route

Vico–Sagliolo: Long and flowing descent requiring delicate braking rhythm and full pace note trust.
Sartène–Propriano: Rapid elevation changes and varied tarmac grip zones pushed tires and suspension setups.
Zicavo–Aullène: Tight corners stacked back-to-back for kilometers—mental and mechanical endurance at their limits.

Corsica’s winding mountain passes offered minimal rest for drivers and co-drivers, with hundreds of turns per stage:

Dry conditions helped teams maintain consistent grip, though overheating and tire wear remained key concerns throughout the rally.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Didier Auriol & Bernard Occelli · Lancia Delta Integrale
2nd Place
Miki Biasion & Tiziano Siviero · Lancia Delta Integrale
3rd Place
Bruno Saby & Jean-François Fauchille · Lancia Delta Integrale

Auriol’s speed on Corsican asphalt was unmatched. His win completed a clean Lancia podium sweep and marked a key highlight of his growing legend in tarmac rallying.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Corner Fatigue: Non-stop left-right combinations made physical and mental fatigue a major concern.
  • Brake Preservation: Descending mountain stages demanded perfect modulation to avoid fade and overheating.
  • Pacenote Precision: With no straights to recover on, co-driver rhythm and accuracy were essential every second of the rally.

Didier Auriol’s repeat win at the 1989 Tour de Corse solidified his reputation as the king of Corsican asphalt—his calm aggression and technical mastery defined one of the season’s most clinical victories.

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