Bernard Darniche

Bernard Darniche is a retired rally and racing driver from France who was active for more than twenty years between 1965 and 1987.

He is most known as the record holder with six wins at Tour de Corse, including five wins when that event was a part of the World Rally Championship. In total, Darniche scored seven WRC victories, triumphing also at 1973 Moroccan Rally and 1979 Rallye Monte Carlo.

Darniche was a champion five times, two times in the European Rally Championship (1976, 1977) and three times in the French Rally Championship (1972, 1976, 1978).

He also raced with touring cars and sports cars, gaining some success. He was fifth overall and first in class at 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1979, together with another rally ace Jean Ragnotti in a Rondeau M379 prototype.

French racing and rally legend Bernard Darniche

Racing with a variety of cars early in a career

Born in March 1942 in Cenon in the Gironde department, Bernard Darniche started his rallying career in the mid-1960s. From 1965 to 1968, he was using different cars in rallies, such were BMC Cooper S, Alpine-Renault A110 1300 or NSU 1000/1200 TT.

From the beginning, Darniche was combining rallies and touring car races. In July 1968, he reached a podium at Spa 24 Hours, finishing third in a Porsche 911 which he was sharing with Alain Junguenet.

Bernard Darniche in the #7 Alpine-Renault at 1970 Tour de Corse

First victory at Tour de Corse in 1970

He recorded several wins in French national events but the first great success came in November 1970 when Darniche won Tour de Corse, a part of the European Rally Championship. In that event, he was driving the #7 Alpine-Renault A110 1600, sharing a car with navigator Bernard Demange.

In 1971, Darniche made a debut at Rallye Monte-Carlo, a part of the International Championship for Manufacturers. He finished 8th in an Alpine-Renault A110 1600.

Bernard Darniche at 1972 Rallye Monte-Carlo

French rally champion and Le Mans debutant in 1972

In 1972, Bernard Darniche and his navigator Alain Mahe won the French Rally Championship in an Alpine-Renault A110 1800. Outside France, their most notable result was the second place at Rali Internacional TAP in Portugal, a part of the European championship.

In June 1972, Darniche made a debut at 24 Hours of Le Mans. He joined John Greenwood Racing to drive the #72 Chevrolet Corvette together with team owner John Greenwood and French racer Alain Cudini. They stopped after 82 laps with a broken engine.

Bernard Darniche scored his first WRC win in the #1 Alpine-Renault at 1973 Rallye du Maroc

One victory in the inaugural World Rally Championship

In 1973, the World Rally Championship (for manufacturers only) has been established and Darniche took part in it, driving an Alpine-Renault A110 1800 in eight events. Alpine-Renault dominantly took the championship title, Darniche contributed with one victory and one podium.

After finishing just 10th at Rallye Monte-Carlo, Darniche clinched his maiden WRC win at Rallye du Maroc in May. In September, he was on a podium at Int. Österreichische Alpenfahrt, finishing second behind Achim Warmbold in a BMW 2002 Tii.

Combining rallying and sports car races in 1974

In 1974, Darniche was combining rallying and sports car races. He participated in just three WRC events with three different cars. He retired with Alpine-Renault A110 1800 at Safari Rally and with Fiat 124 Abarth Rallye at Tour de Corse. He finished sixth in the Press-on-Regardless Rally  (USA) in a Renault 17 Gordini.

In sports car races, his best result was the second place in Tour de France, together with Jacques Jaubert in a Ligier JS2-Maserati. In most of the other races he was driving an Alpine A440 but without any success.

Bernard Darniche in the #6 Lancia Stratos HF at 1975 Tour de Corse

1975 Tour de Corse victory with Lancia Stratos HF

In 1975, Darniche participated in three WRC events. He retired two times with Fiat 124 Abarth Rallye, at Rallye Monte-Carlo and Rallye du Maroc. And then, in November, he won at Tour de Corse in the #6 Lancia Stratos HF, beating his former teammate Jean-Pierre Nicolas in an Alpine-Renault.

That year, Darniche was pretty successful in national events, scoring several wins with different cars (Alpine-Renault A110, Fiat X 1/9, Lancia Stratos HF). He also won Tour de France race with Lancia Stratos.

Bernard Darniche at 1976 Le Mans 24 Hours

1976 - two championship titles in one year

In 1976, Darniche participated in just two WRC events with Lancia Stratos HF, scoring podiums in both. He was third at Rallye Monte-Carlo and second at Tour de Corse.

On the other side, Darniche was unbeatable in the French Rally Championship and European Rally Championship, taking both championship titles together with navigator Alain Mahe.

In 1976, Darniche also returned to Le Mans 24h race, partnering John Greenwood again in his Chevrolet Corvette. They retired after 29 laps.

Bernard Darniche's Lancia Stratos HF in 1977

1977 – ERC title with Lancia, Tour de Corse victory in a Fiat 131 Abarth

In 1977, Darniche spent the entire season in a Lancia Stratos HF, participating in the FIA Cup for Rally Drivers, European and French championship, but he scored the greatest success in a Fiat 131 Abarth. He won Tour de Corse rally for the third time in a career.

Earlier that year, he retired at Rallye Monte-Carlo WRC event, captured one more ERC title with nine wins and finished second in the national championship and third in the FIA Cup.

Third national championship title in 1978

In 1978, Darniche participated in three WRC events, driving Fiat 131 Abarth at Rallye Monte-Carlo (5th) and Tour de Corse (victory). He retired at Rallye de Portugal in a Lancia Stratos HF.

He captured his third French rally title, finished sixth in the European Rally Championship and seventh in the FIA Cup for Rally Drivers.

Bernard Darniche and Jean Ragnotti were sharing the #5 Rondeau prototype at 1979 Le Mans 24h

Two class victories at Le Mans 24 Hours

Darniche was using Lancia Stratos HF outside rally championships also, winning the Ronde Cevenole in June. A week later, he joined Jean Rondeau's team at 24 Hours of Le Mans. At the wheel of the #78 Rondeau M378, sharing a car with Jean Rondeau and Jacky Haran, he finished ninth overall and first in GTP3.0 class.

Darniche returned with Rondeau to Le Mans in June 1979, scoring one more class victory. This time, he was sharing the #5 Rondeau M379 with Jean Ragnotti, finishing fifth overall and first in S+2.0 class.

Bernard Darniche scored seven WRC victories

Two great wins in 1979 World Rally Championship

In rallying, the season 1979 was marked with two great WRC victories. In January, Darniche and Alain Mahe won the Rallye Monte-Carlo in Team Chardonnet's #4 Lancia Stratos HF. At the end of the season, in November, Darniche drove the same car to his fifth win at Tour de Corse.

In 1979, the World Rally Championship for drivers had been established and Darniche finished sixth in the points. Between those two WRC wins, Darniche won at Tour de France ERC event.

Bernard Darniche in the #2 Lancia Stratos HF at 1980 Acropolis Rally

DNF at 1980 Le Mans in a Lancia Beta Montecarlo

In 1980, Darniche continued to combine rallies and sports car races, driving Lancias in both disciplines. In rallying, the highlight of the season was the second place at Rallye Monte-Carlo in the #1 Lancia Stratos HF, behind Walter Röhrl in a Fiat 131 Abarth. Darniche won two ERC events that year, the Rally Costa Smeralda and Tour de France.

In sports car events, he raced with Lancia Beta Montecarlo Group 5 car. At Le Mans 24h, he was sharing a car with Hans Heyer and Teo Fabi but they retired early.

Bernard Darniche in the #10 Lancia Stratos HF at 1981 Tour de Corse

1981 – one more last win at Tour de Corse

In 1981, Darniche started a season with sixth place at Rallye Monte-Carlo, driving a Lancia Stratos HF for Team Chardonnet. He then retired at Targa Florio Rally in a Fiat 131 Abarth and won one national event in a Lancia.

In May 1981, Darniche scored his sixth win at Tour de Corse, driving the #10 Lancia Stratos HF. His record of six wins has never been broken, only Didier Auriol equalized the number in 1995.

Bernard Darniche in the #10 BMW M1 at 1982 Tour de Corse

Last Le Mans attempt in a BMW M1

In June 1981, Darniche recorded his last attempt at Le Mans 24 Hours, driving a BMW M1. Sharing the #51 car with Johnny Cecotto and Philippe Alliot, he finished 16th overall and fifth in Group 5 classification.

Later that year, in November, Darniche started to drive BMW M1 in rallies, spending the entire 1982 season in that car. The car was fast but unreliable and he recorded many DNF, including at Tour de Corse WRC event.

Bernard Darniche was driving Lancia 037 Rally in 1986

Rallying with Group B beasts from 1983 to 1986

The Group B era in rallying started in 1983 and Darniche also switched to that type of cars. In 1983, he finished third at Tour de Corse in a Lancia 037 Rally, then moving to Audi Quattro A2 at Rallye Sanremo and finishing ninth. In 1984, Darniche was first in A8 Class at Rallye Monte-Carlo in an Audi 80 Quattro. At 1984 Tour de Corse, he crashed out in an Audi Quattro A2.

In 1985, Darniche participated in three rallies, including Tour de Corse, in a Peugeot 205 T16, retiring in all three events. In 1986, he was driving Lancia 037 Rally in the European Rally Championship, managing to score just two podiums.

Bernard Darniche at 1987 Rallye Monte-Carlo in a Mercedes

The last competitive season in a Mercedes

When the Group B was banned, Darniche decided to make a switch to Mercedes-Benz  190E 2.3 16V in 1987, driving that car in two WRC rounds and few more French rallies.

He retired both at Rallye Monte-Carlo and Tour de Corse. His last event was the Rallye du Var, a part of the European Rally Championship, in which he finished seventh.

Bernard Darniche

Photos: Herman Sels, Joseph Gaitanis/ewrc-results.com, autocult.fr.