History 2000s

2003 Tour de Corse – Rallye de France (France)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 2003 Tour de Corse – Rallye de France (France)

Date: October 17–19, 2003

Start Location: Ajaccio, Corsica

Finish Location: Ajaccio, Corsica

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

Competitive Stages: 397.42 km

Surface: Asphalt

The 2003 Tour de Corse was a classic tarmac battle through the mountainous roads of Corsica, filled with endless corners and little room for error. Markko Märtin, known primarily for his gravel expertise, shocked the field by driving a smooth and assertive rally to secure a historic win for Ford on one of the most technically demanding sealed-surface events in the WRC.

Route

Murzo–Ambiegna: Fast-flowing with tight cliffside drops — perfect traction required on every apex.

Vero–Sarrola: Twisty and unforgiving — a mistake on the edge meant certain retirement.

Casamozza–Bisinchi: Classic Corsican stage with varying camber and rapidly changing grip levels.

Corsica’s stages were dominated by hairpins, narrow passes, and long descents through the island’s rugged terrain. Notable stages included:

Weather remained stable and dry, offering perfect conditions for tarmac competition and consistent grip throughout the rally weekend.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner

Markko Märtin & Michael Park · Ford Focus RS WRC

2nd Place

Carlos Sainz & Marc Martí · Citroën Xsara WRC

3rd Place

Sébastien Loeb & Daniel Elena · Citroën Xsara WRC

Märtin stayed consistently fast while managing tire wear and avoiding mistakes. Sainz edged out teammate Loeb for second, marking a strong Citroën double podium, but neither could catch the Ford driver on pure pace.

Navigation & Challenges

Corner Density: Thousands of turns over three days — co-driver accuracy was as important as driver input.
Brake Temperature: Repeated hairpins and descents required optimal brake management to avoid fade.
Mental Focus: With almost no straights, concentration had to be absolute — even minor mistakes proved costly.

Märtin’s unexpected win in Corsica proved his adaptability and car control, making him a true all-surface threat and giving Ford a long-awaited success on tarmac.

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