History 2000s

2004 Tour de Corse – Rallye de France (France)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 2004 Tour de Corse – Rallye de France (France)

Date: October 15–17, 2004

Start Location: Ajaccio, Corsica, France

Finish Location: Ajaccio, Corsica, France

Total Distance: ~1,050 km (estimated full route)

Competitive Stages: 381.55 km

Surface: Asphalt (twisty, mountainous)

Nicknamed the “Rally of 10,000 Corners,” the Tour de Corse’s endlessly winding tarmac offered Sébastien Loeb the perfect stage to display his legendary asphalt prowess. He dominated the event with total control, taking stage after stage on his way to a comprehensive victory and another step toward the world title.

Route

Murato–Palasca: Fast and technical with rhythm-breaking crests and off-camber sections — required ultra-precise line work.
Monacia–Sartène: Tight and demanding — perfect surface but little room for error between rock walls and drop-offs.
Vero–Sarrola: Elevation shifts and tight corner sequences — a test of mental endurance and clean inputs.

Corsica’s narrow mountain roads were full of hairpins, elevation shifts, and cambered bends. Key stages included:

Weather was dry and warm throughout the weekend, giving drivers optimal grip and stability for full asphalt attack setups.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Sébastien Loeb & Daniel Elena · Citroën Xsara WRC
2nd Place
Markko Märtin & Michael Park · Ford Focus RS WRC
3rd Place
Carlos Sainz & Marc Martí · Citroën Xsara WRC

Loeb dominated from the opening stage and never looked back. Märtin pushed hard to stay in touch, but Loeb’s grip and flow through Corsica’s curves proved unbeatable. Sainz maintained a measured pace to secure more valuable manufacturer points for Citroën.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Relentless Corners: Few straights meant drivers and co-drivers had to stay in sync for entire loops with no margin for mental fatigue.
  • Brake Management: Long descents tested brake systems — fade and overheating were constant risks.
  • Line Discipline: Cutting corners was risky — exposed rocks and loose gravel punished the overly aggressive.

Loeb’s Corsica win was a masterclass in smoothness and patience — a perfect marriage of driver skill, car control, and co-driver precision on one of the WRC’s most demanding asphalt battlegrounds.

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