Bernard Darniche

Bernard Jean 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.

Darniche 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.

Darniche 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.

WRC victories

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 AUT5 GRE GBR 1971 Alpine Renault Alpine-Renault A110 1600 MON8 SWE ITA4 KEN MAR AUT GRE GBR 1972 Alpine Renault Alpine-Renault A110 1800 MON25 SWE KEN MAR GRE AUT ITA USA GBR

24 Hours of Le Mans results Year Team Co-drivers Car Class Laps 1972 John Greenwood Racing Alain Cudini John Greenwood Chevrolet Corvette C3 GTS +5.0 82 DNF DNF 1976 IMSA Greenwood Corvettes John Greenwood Chevrolet Corvette Stingray IMSAGT 29 DNF DNF 1978 Jean Rondeau Jacky Haran Jean Rondeau Rondeau M378-Cosworth GTP 294 9th 1st 1979 Jean Rondeau Jean Ragnotti Rondeau M379-Cosworth Gr. 6S 3.0 292 5th 1st 1980 Scuderia Lancia Corsa Teo Fabi Hans Heyer Lancia Montecarlo Turbo Gr. 5SP 2.0 6 DNF DNF 1981 BMW Italie-France Philippe Alliot Johnny Cecotto BMW M1 Gr. 5 Gr. 5SP +2.0 278 16th 3rd