The IT team handling the Tour de Corse Historique often has their work cut out for them. 2025 was no exception.

After the race website slowed down multiple times and nearly crashed from so many people trying to access it the moment registration opened in 2024, the team added safeguards to avert a repeat when 2025 sign-ups opened on January 18 at 7 PM. While the servers held up this time, they weren’t exactly expecting everyone to show up to the site at the same time.

The rally reached its 380-entry limit by 7:18 PM, just 18 minutes later. By comparison, the technical nightmare of 2024 happened over 12 hours.

“Initially, we could track registrants in real time on our control screen, but the notifications came in so quickly that we couldn’t keep up,” recalled race organizer Marie-Ange Dini.

“Based on the volume of calls we’ve received, we anticipated that 2025 would break last year’s record of 12 hours to fill the 380 entries. However, we never imagined the list would be full in under 20 minutes. This is the most undeniable proof of the extraordinary enthusiasm surrounding our rally.”

Karine Bertrand was the first person to get her entry processed. She and Jean-Pierre Biggi had finished 137th in the VHC class and second in the A3 subcategory at the 2024 edition, where they raced an Austin Mini Cooper S. The Mini will return for 2025.

12 teams are entered with a Renault 5 Turbo. Like the Lancia 037 in 2024, the R5 Turbo is the rally’s featured car this year to commemorate the 40-year anniversary of Jean Ragnotti winning the 1985 Tour de Corse, then a round on the World Rally Championship. Ragnotti’s R5 will be present at the Retromobile car show in February to promote the race.

Those who did not get their entries in on time will be on a waitlist in case anyone withdraws. With the race not taking place until October, there is plenty of time for such developments to occur.

“Of course, some will be disappointed (about being waitlisted), but that’s the game,” continued Dini. We are proud to offer everyone a fair chance to make their dream come true. I encourage those who missed out to still register, as cancellations are likely before October.”

The 2025 Tour de Corse Historique will run on October 4–11.

Featured image credit: Classic Media