Nine-stage Corsica WRC route agreed

A compromise has been reached on the route for October's Tour of Corsica – the French island's first World Rally Championship round since 2008.

Corsica returned to the WRC schedule in February after Alsace was unable to source funding to maintain the country's Strasbourg-based world championship leg. However, the Corsican organizers soon came into conflict with WRC Promoter over its plans for a radical route.

Initial proposals for a five-stage event with a 45-mile opener on Friday, Oct. 2, and two further tests of similar length on both the Saturday and Sunday, have been dropped. Instead, France's WRC round will include nine stages, three on each day, varying from nine to 28 miles.

WRC Promoter's main concern with the original plan was the potential lack of content for its end-of-day highlights show on Friday. While the rally organizers have conceded on the timetable, the requirement to satisfy regional investment from Ajaccio, Bastia and Porto-Vecchio means all three towns will host the rally for a night halt.

The ceremonial start and finish are in Ajaccio on Thursday and Sunday, while the rally heads to Bastia on Friday night and Porto-Vecchio on Saturday night. The central service park on Friday and Saturday will be at Corte airport, while there is no service on Sunday.

Originally on Autosport.com