The 1999 Tour de Corse (formally the 43rd Tour de Corse - Rallye de France) was a motor racing event for rally cars that was held over three days between 7 and 9 May 1999. It marked the 43rd running of the Tour de Corse, and was the sixth round of the 1999 World Rally Championship season. eWRC 1999 Season Retrieved 17 Oct 2024 The 1999 event was based in the city of Ajaccio in France and was contested over sixteen special stages, covering a total competitive distance of 353.05km (319.38 miles).
Philippe Bugalski was the defending rally winner, stunning the world by beating the World Rally Championship drivers competing for manufacturers points. Tommi Makinen lead the championship with twenty six points; three more than closest rival Didier Auriol.
The event was won by Bugalski, bringing him into the top five of the World Rally Championship standings despite not being a manufacturer driver. eWRC Tour de Corse Final Results Retrieved 17 Oct 2024 This would foreshadow an overhaul of the regulations for next season to the detriment of the two-wheel drive kit cars. The rally also saw the introduction of the Peugeot 206 WRC, which would later win two world titles.
Background Entry list The following crews were set to enter the rally. The event was open to crews competing in the World Rally Championship, as well as privateer entries that were not registered to score points in the manufacturer's championship. Twelve were entered under Group A regulations to compete in the World Rally Championship's Manufacturers' Championship. eWRC Tour de Corse Entry List Retrieved 16 Oct 2024
+ No. Driver Co-Driver Entrant Car Tyre 1 Tommi Makinen Risto Mannisenmaki Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI 2 Freddy Loix Sven Smeets Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart Mitsubishi Carisma GT Evo VI 3 Carlos Sainz Luis Moya Toyota Castrol Team Toyota Corolla WRC 4 Didier Auriol Denis Giraudet Toyota Castrol Team Toyota Corolla WRC 5 Richard Burns Robert Reid Subaru World Rally Team Subaru Impreza S5 WRC 99 6 Bruno Thiry Stephane Prevot Subaru World Rally Team Subaru Impreza S5 WRC 99 7 Colin McRae Nicky Grist Ford Motor Co Ltd Ford Focus WRC 99 8 Simon Jean-Joseph Fred Gallagher Ford Motor Co Ltd Ford Focus WRC 99 9 Harri Rovanpera Risto Pietilainen SEAT Sport SEAT Cordoba WRC 10 Piero Liatti Carlo Cassina SEAT Sport SEAT Cordoba WRC 14 Francois Delecour Daniel Grataloup Peugeot Esso Peugeot 206 WRC 15 Gilles Panizzi Jean-Paul Chiaroni Peugeot Esso Peugeot 206 WRC
Itinerary All dates and times are CEST (UTC+2). Date No. Time span Stage name Distance 7 May 8:15 Service A, Campo dell'Oro SS1 9:01 Verghia Pietra Rossa 1 26.55 km SS2 9:42 Filitosa - Bicchisano 1 22.63 km 10:52 Service B, Propriano SS3 11:30 Portigliolo - Bocca Albitrina 16.54 km SS4 12:04 Sartene - Carbini 27.21 km 13:44 Service C, Propriano SS5 14:25 Pont d'Acoravo - Zerubia 1 20.94 km SS6 15:00 Aullene - Zicavo 1 25.48 km 16:40 Service D, Campo dell'Oro 8 May 7:15 Service E, Campo dell'Oro SS7 7:52 Gare de Carbuccia - Gare Ucciani 11.11 km SS8 8:50 Muracciole - Noceta 16.48 km 10:02 Service F, Corte Chabrieres SS9 11:15 Morosaglia - Campile 31.91 km SS10 12:28 Taverna - Pont de Castirla 16.08 km 13:23 Service G, Corte Chabrieres SS11 14:21 Pont St. Laurent - Bustanico 33.12 km SS12 15:14 Feo - Altiani 16.52 km 16:04 Service H, Corte Chabrieres 9 May 7:00 Service I, Campo dell'Oro SS13 7:46 Verghia - Pietra Rossa 2 26.55 km SS14 8:27 Filitosa - Bicchisano 2 22.63 km 9:37 Service J, Propriano SS15 10:18 Pont d'Acoravo - Zerubia 2 20.94 km SS16 10:53 Allene - Zicavo 2 25.48 km 13:43 Service K, Campo dell'Oro SS17 14:50 Cannelle d'Orcino 13.82 km 15:42 Service L, Campo dell'Oro
Report Overall Summary Following Rally Catalunya, it was no surprise that the Citroën Xsara Kit Cars of Philippe Bugalski and Jesús Puras once again gave the World Rally Car teams a hard time. In a way, this performance proved to be even more dominant than the previous round on the Spanish tarmac, indirectly resulting in an overhaul of the regulations for next season to the detriment of FIA F2 cars. Bugalski took the lead on opening day and did not lose his grip on the lead for the remainder of the rally, winning 9 special stages in the process. Bugalski sprayed the winner's champagne for the second consecutive rally. Puras kept up with his teammate during rally, but only won 4 special stages resulting in a creditable second place, and a 1-2 result for the Citroën team. Carlos Sainz stayed closest to the Citroëns and completed the podium in third place. The rally also saw the debut of the Peugeot 206 WRC in the hands of François Delecour and Gilles Panizzi, where good times on special stages for both drivers (and a stage win for Delecour) preceded an early retirement.
This version of the Tour de Corse tested the format of the TV stage, where the final special stage of the rally was shown live on television, giving the first three crews extra points for the drivers and manufacturers championship. With the fastest crew receiving three points the second-fastest receiving two points, and the third-fastest receiving one point. Those who had retired in previous special stages could also take part in the TV stage.
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