Corsica returns to WRC calendar

The Tour de Corse will replace Rallye de France - Alsace in the 2015 FIA World Rally Championship.

FFSA, motorsport’s governing body in France, confirmed on Friday (6 February) that the Mediterranean island event would return to the series as the 11th round on 1 - 4 October.

The Corsican event last appeared in the WRC in 2008, after which the Alsace mainland region took over the running of the French round in 2010.

However, local authorities there were unable to promise the necessary financial support to organise the Strasbourg-based event this year.

The Corsican Territorial Authorities confirmed financial backing for the WRC’s return to the island yesterday and the asphalt event will take place on the dates originally allocated to the Alsace rally.

The FFSA said it planned to renew links with the past in which the Tour de Corse forged its reputation.

“The route will consist of a succession of very long special stages that will highlight the Haute Corse region and the south of Corsica,” said a spokesman.

The Tour de Corse was first held in 1956 and was part of the WRC from the championship’s first season in 1973 to 2008. The rally was based around Ajaccio before departing the WRC, but no details are yet available of the 2015 route.