A 25th edition more challenging than ever
- Julien Hergault
- Aug 12
- 4 min read
For its 25th edition, the Tour de Corse Historique is offering a record 22 special stages - totalling 398 kilometres of timed sectors - tailored to enthusiasts. A colossal challenge awaits the 380 competing crews, who will have eight days (from October 4 to 11) to write their legend on the roads of the 'Ile de Beauté" (Isle of Beauty). Beyond the sporting challenges, the programme also promises some delightful cultural and tourist surprises.
Saturday 4 & Sunday 5 October
Scrutineering – Calvi
For the first time since 2013, the pre-race festivities will be held in Calvi. The weekend is dedicated to welcoming the crews and inspecting the 380 cars entered. The parc fermé, service park, and start village – including a Renault exhibition, shops, and food trucks – are all freely accessible to spectators.
Monday 6 October
Practice Session – Calvi
A non-timed test stage, set on the heights of Lumio, will allow each crew to fine-tune their preparations, within the limit of three runs between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The drivers' briefing at the start of the evening is followed by a festive evening with a concert and fireworks.
Tuesday 7 October
Stage 1: Calvi – Calvi VHC: 125 km | VHRS: 60 km
The crews competing in Regularity and Competition will alternate on the start podium before taking different routes to their respective special stages. The VHRS and Légende categories will tackle “Notre-Dame-de-la-Serra” south-to-north (split into two sections) – a first in history! The VHC competitors will head in the opposite direction, taking on two demanding Balagne stages with frequent changes of pace and surface. Everyone meets up again in the evening in Calvi.
Start order: VHC, Légende and VHRS alternate
VHC
11:18 - SS 01 : Feliceto - Occhiatana (20,2 km)
12:31 - SS 02 : Pietra Monetta - Novella (10,6 km)
17:11 - Entry to the parc fermé in Calvi
VHRS / Légende
12:18 - SS 01 : Fango - Argentella (11,3 km)
12:46 - SS 02 : N.-D.-de-la-Serra - Calvi (15 km)
16:21 - Entry to the parc fermé in Calvi
Wednesday 8 October
Stage 2: Calvi – Ajaccio (223 km)
As expected, the day begins with “Notre-Dame-de-la-Serra” (in its traditional direction this time), a stage run in every single edition of the Tour de Corse Historique. The following stage is a continuation of the myth, as far as the Col de Palmarella. After Porto, the third stage of the day will take competitors to the picturesque regrouping park in Évisa, following the Gorges de Spelunca. The afternoon descent southwards will feature two more stages, a crossing of the legendary Pont d’Azzana, and the climb to the Col de Tartavella. The stage will finish in Ajaccio, where the rally has not been since 2020.
Start order: Légende, VHRS, VHC
07:18 - SS 03 : N.-D.-de-la-Serra - Fango (28,5 km)
08:01 - SS 04 : Galéria - Col de Palmarella (14,9 km)
09:24 - SS 05 : Porto - Évisa (15 km)
09:54 - Entry to the regrouping park in Évisa
11:37 - SS 06 : Arbori - Arro (13,6 km)
12:20 - SS 07 : Lopigna - Vero (28,6 km)
14:20 - Finish in Ajaccio
Thursday 9 October
Stage 3: Ajaccio – Bonifacio (262 km)
The first stage sets off from Verghia, where the rally used to begin. It was here that Bruno Saby, competing this year in a Lancia Delta, set the first fastest stage time of the 1986 edition, the prelude to his victory in the Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 Evo 2. The route then takes in the hairpin bend at Albitreccia, where crowds always flocked in those days. After a stop in Cozzano – a charming village perched 700 metres above sea level – the rally continues south to the island’s southern tip: Bonifacio, for the very first time! The sunset over the cliffs bordering the parc fermé promises to be spectacular.
Start order: Légende, VHRS, VHC
07:53 - SS 08 : Verghia - Stiliccione (26,3 km)
09:06 - SS 09 : Pila Canale - Albitreccia (14,9 km)
09:49 - SS 10 : Forciolo - Olivese (6,7 km)
10:47 - SS 11 : Guitera les Bains - Ciamannacce (14,7 km)
11:27 - Entry to the regrouping park in Cozzano
12:50 - SS 12 : Col de la Vaccia - Pont d’Acoravo (29,9 km)
15:10 - Finish in Bonifacio
Friday 10 October
Stage 4: Bonifacio – Lucciana (291 km)
The longest stage of the rally, 291km, follows the east coast to Lucciana (Bastia-Poretta airport), in the area that was set up in 2016 as a base camp for the Tour de Corse WRC. At midday, the regrouping will be held in the postcard-perfect setting of Moriani-Plage, with turquoise waters and white sand. On the sporting side, the route will include legendary Tour de Corse passages such as the recently resurfaced Pont de l’Enfer, and will completely circle the Saint-Jean-Baptiste church in La Porta. This spectacular section, often tackled in a drift, also marks the start of the rally’s longest special stage, almost 30 km.
Start order: VHC, Légende, VHRS
09:33 - SS 13 : Maison Pieraggi - Pietroso (14,9 km)
10:16 - SS 14 : Vezzani - Antisanti (15 km)
11:39 - SS 15 : Pianiccia - Chiatra (26 km)
13:09 - Entry to the regrouping park in Moriani
14:12 - SS 16 : Santa Lucia - Taglio-Isolaccio (14,1 km)
15:10 - SS 17 : La Porta - Barchetta (30 km)
16:30 - Finish in Lucciana (Bastia-Poretta Aiport)
Saturday 11 October
Stage 5: Lucciana – Calvi (157 km)
The route follows Route Territoriale 20 (formerly N193), the backbone of the island, to the Ponte Leccia junction, starting point of the day’s first stage. This stage passes through Morosaglia, birthplace of Pascal Paoli, father of the Corsican nation. The rally will then cross the RT 20 again to contest the next four stages, separated by very short liaisons and run without regrouping. The final stage, just six kilometres long, is not to be underestimated, as its broken surface hides some surprises. After five days of racing and 1,058 km of road, the finishers and category winners will be celebrated in Calvi.
Start order: VHC, Légende, VHRS
07:53 - SS 18 : Ponte Leccia - Valle-di-Rostino (19,6 km)
08:36 - SS 19 : Ponte Novo - Canavaggia (13,6 km)
09:09 - SS 20 : Costa Roda - Ponte Rosso (10,6 km)
09:52 - SS 21 : Castifao - Belgodère (20,6 km)
11:15 - SS 22 : Cateri - Montemaggiore (6 km)
11:50 - Finish podium in Calvi
