History 1990s

1999 Tour de Corse – Rallye de France (Corsica)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1999 Tour de Corse – Rallye de France (Corsica)

Date: May 7–9, 1999

Start Location: Ajaccio, Corsica

Finish Location: Ajaccio, Corsica

Total Distance: ~1,027 km (full route)

Competitive Stages: 397.36 km

Surface: Asphalt

The 1999 Tour de Corse delivered one of the most surprising and historic results in modern WRC history. Philippe Bugalski, driving a front-wheel-drive Citroën Xsara Kit Car, outpaced the world's top four-wheel-drive machines on Corsica’s endlessly twisting tarmac roads. With perfect weather and optimal road conditions, the lighter, nimbler Xsara proved unbeatable in the hands of Bugalski, marking Citroën’s breakthrough WRC victory and shaking up expectations on what kind of car could win on pure asphalt.

Route

Vico–Sagone: Long mountain descent with constantly changing corner radius and heavy brake usage.
Zérubia–Petreto: Tight switchbacks with technical climbs requiring impeccable rhythm.
Col de Sorba: High-elevation mountain pass that tested lateral grip and driver patience through endless turns.

Corsica’s rally stages are legendary for their relentless sequence of corners, steep cliffs, and minimal runoff. Key tests included:

The dry spring conditions meant the roads were clean and fast, giving 2WD cars like the Xsara a rare advantage over their heavier AWD rivals.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Philippe Bugalski & Jean-Paul Chiaroni · Citroën Xsara Kit Car
2nd Place
Didier Auriol & Denis Giraudet · Toyota Corolla WRC
3rd Place
François Delecour & Daniel Grataloup · Peugeot 206 WRC

Bugalski’s victory marked the first modern-era WRC win for a front-wheel-drive car, while Auriol and Delecour gave chase but couldn’t match the Xsara’s agility on twisty Corsican tarmac.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Endless Cornering: With virtually no straights, co-driver timing and rhythm were essential to carrying speed and avoiding mistakes.
  • Brake Management: The tarmac’s grip encouraged late braking, but disc temperatures needed constant attention on long descents.
  • Precision Driving: Corsica punished oversteer or understeer severely — the Xsara’s handling allowed Bugalski to stay clean and fast under pressure.

The 1999 Tour de Corse will be remembered as a turning point — not just for Citroën, but for the perception of what kinds of cars could win in the WRC. Bugalski’s drive was an instant classic, and a sign of things to come for the French manufacturer.

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