Julien Saunier’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

Historic Sports Regularity Vehicles