History 2000s

2002 Tour de Corse – Rallye de France (France)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 2002 Tour de Corse – Rallye de France (France)

Date: October 18–20, 2002

Start Location: Ajaccio, Corsica, France

Finish Location: Ajaccio, Corsica, France

Total Distance: ~1,100 km (estimated full route)

Competitive Stages: ~395 km

Surface: Asphalt

The 2002 Tour de Corse featured narrow, winding tarmac roads with thousands of corners and no margin for error. Gilles Panizzi, fresh off a dominant win in Sanremo, kept the momentum going with another flawless performance, using the Peugeot 206 WRC’s razor-sharp response to outpace his rivals across the Corsican hills.

Route

Pont de Casaglione: Tight sequences through rocky outcrops — tire wear and braking points had to be precise.
Murzo–Ambiegna: Fast, flowing mountain tarmac with camber shifts and narrow line choices — tested balance and commitment.
Vero–Sarrola: High-speed corners on aging asphalt — punished overdriving and poor note timing.

Corsica’s stages are famously technical and punishing — with minimal straights and relentless cornering. Key stages included:

Weather remained sunny and dry, ideal for slick tires and allowing drivers to push the limits of grip throughout the event.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Gilles Panizzi & Hervé Panizzi · Peugeot 206 WRC
2nd Place
Sébastien Loeb & Daniel Elena · Citroën Xsara WRC
3rd Place
Richard Burns & Robert Reid · Peugeot 206 WRC

Panizzi was untouchable in Corsica, winning multiple stages and controlling the rally from the front. Loeb once again demonstrated his emerging talent on asphalt, while Burns put in a methodical drive to secure more manufacturer points for Peugeot.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Corner Frequency: With almost no straights, co-drivers had to be perfectly in sync to maintain rhythm across hundreds of turns.
  • Brake Discipline: Fading brakes or over-aggressive inputs led to massive time losses — Panizzi’s style was calm and composed throughout.
  • Surface Variation: Corsica’s aging tarmac and roadside debris made tire placement and grip awareness vital on every corner exit.

The 2002 Tour de Corse was a celebration of tarmac mastery, with Gilles Panizzi delivering a flawless drive and reinforcing his legacy as one of asphalt rallying’s true greats.

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