Julien Sainier’s Porsche 911 wins 2024 Tour de Corse Historique

Despite being a newcomer to the race and not having been on Corsica in two decades, Julien Saunier claimed the Tour de Corse Historique in dominant fashion.

Driving a Porsche 911 with Frédéric Vauclare as co-driver, Saunier took the early lead after the first day. He battled with Tom Pieri‘s BMW X3 throughout the race, the two comprising the top positions for all seventeen Selective Sections. Saunier ultimately took the upper hand in each of the final four legs to pull away with a total time of 3:59:26. Pieri settled for second and less than a minute back at 4:00:11.

“I didn’t know the car or the rally, and I hadn’t returned to the island since competing in the 2005 Corte Rally, but we prepared well with meticulous reconnaissance,” said Saunier. “The secret of our victory lies largely in Frédéric’s incredibly precise notes. He even identified where water might flow in case of rain, and that’s exactly what happened. He coached me on when to push or hold back. Our victory is sixty percent his.

“It’s extraordinary because I’ve dreamed of participating in the Tour de Corse Historique for a long time. It’s a legendary rally.”

Jos Verstappen finished twentieth in his historic rally début. The former F1 driver ran as high as eighth, but an oil leak in his Porsche during Stage #3 dropped him down the order. While a sour note, Verstappen has expressed interest in returning for the 2025 edition.

While the 2024 race was intended to be a celebration of the Lancia 037, it was ultimately a Porsche 911 showcase. Besides Saunier, Christophe Baillet won the VHRS regularity category in his own 911, overcoming a gearbox change after the first day to take the lead on the penultimate leg. He scored 149 points, eight fewer than runner-up and fellow Porsche driver Pierre Feligioni.

Class winners

Historic Racing Cars

Class	Overall Finish	Number	Driver	Co-Driver	Car	Group	Time
A3 (2)	68	164	Bernard Queyroix	Françoise Queyroix	Morris Mini Cooper S	2	5:34:00
A3 (4/5)	79	178	Jean-Pierre Paolin	Michel Bourgeat	Alfa Romeo Coupe Sprint	4/5	6:23:36
A4	60	205	Jean-Charles Guigues	Olivier Gentil	Lotus Elan	4/5	5:23:40
A6	74	176	Marco Brunner	Lucas Brunner	Ford Mustang	2	5:52:48
B4 (2)	72	162	Philippe Lefaure	Ludovic Mounier	Volkswagen Cox 1303S	2	5:46:04
B4 (4/5)	32	72	Johan Allagnon	Joanna Bouquillon	Jidé 1600	4/5	4:44:30
B5	52	135	Phillip Harris	Alun Cook	Ford Escort	2	5:06:05
B7	35	84	Thomas Pellegrin	Marc Bernardi	Porsche 911 2.3 ST	4/5	4:45:50
B8	1	10	Julien Saunier	Frédéric Vauclare	Porsche 911 SC Gr.4	4/5	3:59:26
C4	62	98	Stéphane Castelli	Romain Pieretti	Volkswagen Golf	2	5:26:38
C5 (2)	42	209	Alexandre Boutin	Marine Rodax	Opel Kadett C GTE	2	4:50:58
C5 (4/5)	3	16	Karl Vandewoestyne	Ulysse Poupard	Ford Escort Mk2	4/5	4:13:28
C7 (2)	45	200	Daniel Rey	Jeanne Rey	Alfa Romeo GTV6	2	4:56:33
C7 (4/5)	14	31	Paul Lietaer	Mar Vandemoortele	Opel Ascona 400	4/5	4:24:36
C8 (3)	25	77	Gilles Angevin	Pauline Prat	Porsche 911 SC	3	4:37:38
C8 (4/5)	5	15	Pascal Ippoliti	Mathieu Coutier	Porsche 911	4/5	4:15:46
D3	82	64	Segolen	Jérôme Cadoret	Citroën Visa	BJ	6:51:36
D4 (AJ)	64	143	Philippe Noyer	Didier Lefaucheur	Peugeot 205 GTi	AJ	5:28:24
D4 (BJ)	65	195	Alexandre Chefdeville	Christophe Lorenzon	Citroën Visa Chrono Group B	BJ	5:28:24
D5 (AJ)	67	171	Mickaël Palagi	Bertrand Boutier	BMW E30 323i	AJ	5:32:30
D5 (BJ)	22	68	Gilles Suzanne	David Suzanne	Renault R5 Turbo	BJ	4:34:17
D8	8	48	Bernard Revest	Pierre-Jean Finidori	Lancia 037	BJ	4:19:45
Women	39	69	Luisa Zumelli	Giovanni Agnese	Porsche 911 Carrera RS	4/5	4:49:42

Historic Sports Regularity Vehicles

Class	Overall Finish	Number	Driver	Co-Driver	Car	Points
High	24	313	Jean-Louis Herbeth	Christophe Jover	1983 Porsche 928S	1,198
Intermediate	1	330	Christophe Baillet	Jean-Marc Piret	1982 Porsche 911	149
Medium	5	445	Jean Rigondet	Olivier Souillard	1971 CG 1200	235
Low	3	456	Alain Arnal	Denis Goudou	1969 Morris Cooper S	188
Women	45	461	Stephanie Bayard	Marie-Carla Favier	1960 Porsche 356	3,385