History 1990s

1997 Tour de Corse – Rallye de France (Corsica)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1997 Tour de Corse – Rallye de France (Corsica)

Date: May 8–10, 1997

Start Location: Ajaccio, Corsica

Finish Location: Ajaccio, Corsica

Total Distance: 360.16 km of special stages

Surface: Asphalt

Known as the 'Rally of 10,000 Corners,' the 1997 Tour de Corse tested drivers with relentless sequences of tarmac hairpins and mountain switchbacks. Colin McRae, not typically known for his finesse on asphalt, surprised the field with a brilliantly disciplined drive, securing his third win of the season. The Corsican roads rewarded commitment, rhythm, and tire management — all of which McRae executed perfectly alongside co-driver Nicky Grist.

Route

Pont de Castirla–Francardo: Narrow roads climbing through pine forests with minimal run-off and aggressive camber changes.
Col de Sorba: A high-speed descent with dangerous drop-offs and smooth but treacherous asphalt.
Zérubia–Petreto-Bicchisano: Tight corner sequences and rhythm-breaking curves that punished brake fade and tire wear.

The rally wound through the rugged interior of Corsica, including famed tarmac tests like:

With almost no gravel runoff or room for error, Corsica’s stages required inch-perfect precision and sharp pacenote timing.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Colin McRae & Nicky Grist · Subaru Impreza WRC97
2nd Place
Gilles Panizzi & Hervé Panizzi · Peugeot 306 Maxi
3rd Place
Carlos Sainz & Luis Moya · Ford Escort WRC

McRae’s performance on pure asphalt was a breakthrough, especially against specialist tarmac drivers like Panizzi. His victory marked one of the most complete wins of his career.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Relentless Cornering: Thousands of tight bends over short distances made pace and rhythm critical to success.
  • Brake Management: Long downhill stretches placed huge demands on braking systems, requiring discipline to avoid fade.
  • Tire Selection: Tire compound choices played a vital role with frequent grip transitions and abrasive surfaces.

The 1997 Tour de Corse was a standout moment in McRae’s career, proving that raw aggression could be balanced with surgical precision — even on the WRC’s most demanding asphalt stages.

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