Bernard Darniche

Bernard Darniche (born 28 March 1942 in Cenon, a commune in the Gironde department) is a French former rally driver. He won the European Rally Championship in 1976 and 1977 and the French Rally Championship in 1976 and 1978, each time behind the wheel of a Lancia Stratos HF. He also holds the record for most victories in the Tour de Corse which he won six times (1970, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1981), a feat later equalled by Didier Auriol.

Bernard Darniche
Personal information
Nationality French
Born (1942-03-28) 28 March 1942
Cenon
World Rally Championship record
Active years1973–1987
Co-driver Alain Mahé
TeamsAlpine-Renault, Lancia, Audi
Rallies38
Championships0
Rally wins7
Podiums11
Stage wins115
Total points87
First rally1973 Monte Carlo Rally
First win1973 Rally of Morocco
Last win1981 Tour de Corse
Last rally1987 Tour de Corse

He competed in the first World Rally Championships in 1973, winning the 16th Moroccan Rally and placing second in the 44th Alpine Rally, and was one of the top competitors for the remainder of the decade. He finished third in the inaugural FIA Cup for Rally Drivers in 1977, the first of three successive top ten finishes in the drivers' championship.

He also won the Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo in 1979, the event where he holds the record for most wins on the infamous Col de Turini stage, a 1,600 m Alpine mountain pass normally driven in darkness. The so-called "Night of the Long Knives" has seen Darniche victorious on ten occasions.

he is present at the Grandes heures de l'automobile 2017[1] at Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry or been present too Sébastien Loeb, Robert Neyret, Bruno Saby, Gilles Panizzi or David Piper.

WRC victories

 #  Event Season Co-driver Car
1 16ème Rallye du Maroc 1973 Alain Mahé Alpine-Renault A110
2 19ème Tour de Corse 1975 Alain Mahé Lancia Stratos HF
3 21ème Tour de Corse 1977 Alain Mahé Fiat 131 Abarth
4 22ème Tour de Corse 1978 Alain Mahé Fiat 131 Abarth
5 47ème Rallye Monte-Carlo 1979 Alain Mahé Lancia Stratos HF
6 23ème Tour de Corse 1979 Alain Mahé Lancia Stratos HF
7 25ème Tour de Corse 1981 Alain Mahé Lancia Stratos HF

Complete IMC results

Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
1970 Alpine Renault Alpine-Renault A110 1600 MON SWE ITA KEN AUT
5
GRE GBR
1971 Alpine Renault Alpine-Renault A110 1600 MON
8
SWE ITA
4
KEN MAR AUT GRE GBR
1972 Alpine Renault Alpine-Renault A110 1800 MON
25
SWE KEN MAR GRE AUT ITA USA GBR

References

Sporting positions
Preceded by
Maurizio Verini
European Rally Champion
1976–1977
Succeeded by
Tony Carello
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