Image: In 1994, 3rd in the Hungarian GP at the wheel of a Benetton. © FordHe will take part in his first historic rally from October 5 to 12. Other renowned drivers will also be at the start of the 24th edition.͏ © Ford ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
The 52-year-old Dutchman has chosen Corsica to compete in his first historic rally behind the wheel of a 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.0 RS. Other renowned drivers will also be at the start of the 24th edition taking place from October 5 to 12, 2024.
A prominent figure in the Formula 1 paddocks since the 1990s - first as a driver and then alongside his son Max - Jos Verstappen will line up for the Tour de Corse Historique from October 5 to 12, 2024.
For his first historic rally, the Dutchman will draw on his solid experience in modern rallies, having contested all rounds of the Belgian Championship since 2022, where he has already accumulated six victories. “He doesn’t yet have the terrain reading skills of a true specialist to anticipate changes in grip on the track,” says his co-driver Renaud Jamoul. “However, he retains an exceptional sensitivity to braking from his circuit days. He presses very hard on the pedal until the point of lock-up, then releases gradually, like an ABS system.”
This is fortunate because there will be no question of electronic aids in the 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.0 RS that he will be driving in Corsica. “Jos belongs to the generation of H-gearboxes, so handling an older car is not an issue for him, unlike current F1 drivers,” analyzes preparer Romain Joffroy, who organized a test session for his new driver in May. “Jos can't yet measure the pleasure he's going to get from this rally at the wheel of this 330bhp, 930kg rear-wheel drive car. It’s his first participation, but certainly not the last!”
JOS VERSTAPPEN IN SHORT
Born in 1973, Johannes Verstappen began his career in karting at the age of 8 and rose through the ranks to sign up with the prestigious Benetton team as a test driver for the 1994 F1 season, then finally as a regular driver to replace the Finnish JJ Lehto, who was injured during the winter tests. Within this team dedicated to Michael Schumacher, the man already nicknamed ‘Jos the Boss’ by his fans finished on the podium twice (Hungary and Belgium), though these performances were deemed insufficient by his employer. He then moved to more modest teams (Simtek, Footwork, Tyrrell, Stewart, Arrows, Minardi) before rebounding in endurance racing, where he notably secured a class win (LMP2) at the 2008 Le Mans 24 Hours. Most notably, he now dedicates a large part of his life to nurturing and managing the career of his son Max, with the success we know.
OTHER BIG NAMES AT THE START
In addition to Jos Verstappen, several renowned drivers are on the entry list, which will be announced shortly.
Bruno Saby - The unconditional
John Buffum - The American hero
Tom Pieri - The next generation
Alain Oreille - The reference
Philippe Gache - The eclectic
Philippe Gache grew up in Avignon, where he had many adventures with Jean Alesi, before embarking on a motorsport career. After starting with the Talbot Samba Cup in 1983, he shifted to single-seaters (Formula Ford, F3, F3000) but never had the opportunity to enter F1. However, he did compete in the premier discipline in the United States by participating in the 1992 Indianapolis 500, where he was the best rookie in qualification. An eclectic driver, Philippe Gache has ten participations in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, four in Dakar, and experiences in touring cars, the Andros Trophy, and rallying, including two wins at the Tour de Corse Historique in 2011 and 2012. He will be at the 2024 edition driving a Porsche 911.
Patrick Bernardini - The local
Orsini, Manzagol, Loubet, Balesi, Serpaggi… Corsica has always been home to great drivers. Patrick Bernardini belongs to this lineage of locals who have shone outside the island. In 1994 and 1995, he won two French Rally Championship titles, finishing 7th in the Tour de Corse three times in 1991, 1994, and 1995. In 1996, he started the Monte-Carlo Rally, which was off the World Championship calendar (due to alternating years). The favorites were Armin Schwarz (Toyota Celica) and François Delecour (Peugeot 306 Maxi), but it was the Ajaccio native who won in a Ford Escort RS Cosworth. Patrick Bernardini is among those acrobats capable of mastering almost any vehicle, whether atmospheric, turbo, 4x4, front-wheel drive, or rear-wheel drive, like the BMW M3 he will drive in the 2024 Tour de Corse Historique.
Last but not least, note that four former winners of the VHC category of the Tour de Corse Historique will be at the start of the 24th edition: Hervé Guignard (2009), Philippe Gache (2011, 2012), Christophe Vaison (2014, 2015), and Alain Oreille (2020).
