The Tour de Corse Historique celebrates 20 year anniversary


The Tour de Corse Historique celebrates 20 year anniversary


Yes, there is some kind of impatience. And saying it is a no-brainer. Never had the Tour de Corse Historique been so expected. But you don’t turn 20 everyday. It is safe to say that this emblematic rally of the historical world is one of the essential kind.

But this 20th anniversary was a tough one to get through until the very end. The organizing team won’t say otherwise as they’ve had to rethink their work on a daily basis. Nothing has been spared. Beyond the constraints linked to the Coronavirus epidemic – with verifications, closed parks and prizes prohibited to the public – « small  concerns » have gone through the roof.

However, and more than ever, the atmosphere is festive as the competitors, who joined the Cité du Sel on Sunday, are clearly in the mood to battle. Tyres are rolling, and they’re not the only ones. Today’s rolling session in Chera was a perfect example.

20 key specials 



The TDCH will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2020 with 20 specials. We must still admit that the alignment of the planets … or rather numbers, is remarkable. We will see a big piece of 382.7 kilometers of timed sections for a total of 1060 km, with four daily specials from Tuesday to Saturday.

That program includes highlights every day … It will start on Tuesday with the opening special in Bocca di Pelza – Gualdaricciu, on a varied route including the beautiful descent of Carabona.

The next day Maison Pieraggi – Antisanti and Poggio-Mezzana – Talasani, will be worth the trip. The first race is very fast, and contrasts with the next one, which is on a narrow track like what was done on the Tour in the 1960s and 70s.

On Thursday, the Tour will be in Castagniccia. It is one of the dangerous roads. But on the same day, the Tour will experience a moment of intense emotion in this land of legend.

The legendary special, Pont de Rimitoriu – Barchetta alone is worth the detour.

Of course there will be the photo of the Tour in La Porta, but for the drivers, this very special will be the moment when everything may be played out on tricky tracks.

Friday, the penultimate day of the Tour, will be full of symbols as runners will compete in Notre Dame de La Serra. This is the special everyone is waiting for.

The lowering of the curtain with the return on Saturday to Porto-Vecchio, the end of the rally, will also have its “not to be missed” moment with the closing ES between Pont de Caldane and Oronu. Belle époque aficionados will probably check out the cars in Oronu.

It will then be time to join the closed park on the Harbour, where the winners of this 20th TDCH will be crowned.

And quite interesting people to look out for



This 20th edition is not lacking in spice.

François Foulon, the 2019 VHC winner, will be there and will put his title on the line at the wheel of the MK2, but the competition is more than substantial.

The Porsche cars will be numerous with a high quality line-up : 1993 winner François Delecour, Alain Oreille, Robert Consani, Louis Antonini, Frantz Leandri and Jean-Pierre Lajournade. A list to which local man Jean Baptiste Botti should be added. Pierre Lafay (Mazda RX7) and Pierre, Vivier (R5) will also be first row challengers. Another local man, Joel Marchetti, who usually sits on the first row, won’t be there.

J2 category will keep things upgraded. We await the fight of the M3, Marc Valliccioni, Olivier Capanaccia, the first islander of the 2019 Tour de Corse WRC, who will have to familiarize himself with his “BM” and his propulsion, Christophe Vaison, twice winner of the event, and Jean- Paul Villa. Mathieu Martinetti (Subaru) will also have to be carefully watched.

That is the scene set. It will, without a doubt, serve as the setting for a more than à breathtaking  scenario.

Crédit photo / Tour de Corse Historique / © PhotoClassicRacing.com  

On the agenda of this 20th Tour de Corse Historique :

• Monday October, 5th: administrative and technical checks, festive driving day & show in               Porto-Vecchio, starting ceremony

• Tuesday 6th : 1st stage Porto-Vecchio / Porto-Vecchio

• Wednesday 7th : Porto-Vecchio / Bastia – 2nd stage

• Thursday 8th : Bastia / Calvi – 3rd stage

• Friday 9th : Calvi / Ajaccio – 4th stage

• Saturday 10th : Ajaccio / Porto-Vecchio – 5th stage & Finish and podium