14 Facts About Didier Auriol

Didier Auriol was born on 18 August 1958 and is a French former rally driver.

Didier Auriol became World Rally Champion in 1994, the first driver from his country to do so.

Didier Auriol was a factory candidate for Lancia, Toyota and Peugeot among others, before losing his seat at Skoda at the end of 2003.

Didier Auriol's sister Nadine was involved in rallying as a co-driver, while his brother Gerrard was a former rally driver.

At the age of 21, Auriol started rallying in an old Simca 1000.

Didier Auriol drove the Simca for two years before getting a Renault 5 Turbo to compete in the French Rally Championship.

Didier Auriol contested it again the following year, the first of the Group A years, in a Ford Sierra RS Cosworth and with his car he was French Rally Champion 1987 and 1988.

Didier Auriol won his first World Championship event, the 1988 Tour de Corse, whilst driving a works Ford Sierra RS Cosworth.

Didier Auriol remained with the team for four seasons, driving three successive versions of the then-dominant Lancia Delta Integrale.

In 1993 Didier Auriol switched to Toyota, and won his first event for the team, the Monte Carlo Rally.

Didier Auriol did not win again that season, but the following year he won the Corsica, Argentina and San Remo rallies and went into the final round, in Great Britain, vying again with Sainz for the championship.

Didier Auriol drove for Subaru in Sweden and for Mitsubishi in San Remo.

Didier Auriol landed a drive with Peugeot Sport for the 2001 season, but he had a largely difficult season; only on asphalt-rallies was Didier Auriol able to be quicker than his teammate, Marcus Gronholm.

Didier Auriol is a six-time winner of the Tour de Corse, a record jointly held with Bernard Darniche.