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Carlos Sainz
Sainz in 2014
Personal information
Nationality Spain Spanish
Full nameCarlos Sainz Cenamor
Born (1962-04-12) 12 April 1962 (age 61)
Madrid, Spain
World Rally Championship record
Active years 19872005
Co-driver Spain Antonio Boto
Spain Luis Moya
Spain Marc Marti
Teams Ford, Toyota, Lancia, Subaru, Citroën
Rallies196
Championships2 ( 1990, 1992)
Rally wins26
Podiums97
Stage wins757 [1]
Total points1,242
First rally1987 Rally Portugal
First win1990 Acropolis Rally
Last win 2004 Rally Argentina
Last rally2005 Acropolis Rally

Carlos Sainz Cenamor (born 12 April 1962) is a Spanish rally driver. He won the World Rally Championship drivers' title with Toyota in 1990 and 1992, and finished runner-up four times. Constructors' world champions to have benefited from Sainz are Subaru ( 1995), Toyota ( 1999) and Citroën ( 2003, 2004 and 2005). In the 2018 season he was one of the official drivers of the Team Peugeot Total. [2] He received the Princess of Asturias Sports Award in 2020. [3] Sainz founded the Acciona | Sainz XE Team to join Extreme E and competed in the first two seasons alongside Laia Sanz.

Nicknamed El Matador, Sainz previously held the WRC record for most career starts until Finnish co-driver Miikka Anttila broke the record. [4] He was also the first non- Nordic driver to win the 1000 Lakes Rally in Finland. He came close to repeating the feat at the Swedish Rally, finishing second four times and third twice. Alongside his WRC successes, he has won the Dakar Rally (2010, 2018, 2020, 2024), the Race of Champions (1997) and the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (1990). His co-drivers were Antonio Boto, Luis Moya, Marc Martí and Lucas Cruz.

His son, Carlos Sainz Jr., is also a professional racing driver, currently competing for Scuderia Ferrari in Formula One. [5] He also has an older brother named Antonio Sainz, born on 10 December 1957, [6] who was also a rally driver. [7]

Early life

Sainz was born in Madrid. Before moving into motorsport, he played football and squash. As a teenager, Real Madrid gave him a trial and in squash he was the Spanish champion at the age of 16. He got his first touch of motorsport in Formula Ford while still playing squash and football. [8] Before dedicating himself to motorsport, Sainz studied law up to the second scheduled cycle. [9]

Rallying career

Early career (1980–1988)

Sainz began rallying in 1980. He finished runner-up in the Spanish Rally Championship in 1986, in a Group B Renault 5 Turbo, and won it with a Ford Sierra RS Cosworth in 1987 and 1988. [10]

Ford gave him his first World Rally championship appearances during the 1987 season. He finished seventh in the Tour de Corse and eighth on the RAC Rally. He remained with Ford for the following season, now co-driven by Luis Moya, who remained his regular co-driver for the next fifteen years. He finished fifth twice, in the Tour de Corse and the Rallye Sanremo, and seventh on an icy RAC Rally.

Ford were an increasingly minor player in the World Rally Championship, with the rear-wheel-drive Sierra uncompetitive against the four-wheel-drive cars, and struggled to retain ambitious and talented young drivers such as Sainz and his teammate in 1988, Didier Auriol. Both departed the team for 1989; Auriol to Lancia and Sainz to Toyota Team Europe, the Japanese marque's rallying arm operating in Cologne, Germany.

Toyota (1989–1992)

1992 Toyota Celica GT-Four Carlos Sainz Limited Edition

Despite all previous rallying Toyota Celicas having only ever looked a competitive prospect on highly specialized endurance rallies such as the Safari Rally, the new combination of Toyota and Sainz rapidly rose in competitiveness. In the 1989 season, Sainz started with four retirements but then finished on the podium in three rallies in a row. His teammate, by then two-time world champion Juha Kankkunen, also gave the Celica GT-Four ST165 its debut win at the inaugural Rally Australia. Sainz would almost certainly have won his first World Championship Rally on the final event of the season, the RAC Rally, but for mechanical failure in the final stages, which relegated him to second.

In the 1990 season, Sainz drove his GT-Four to victory at the Acropolis Rally, at the Rally New Zealand, at the 1000 Lakes Rally, as the first non- Nordic driver, and at the RAC Rally, claiming his first world drivers' title, ahead of Lancia's Didier Auriol and Kankkunen, ending the Italian marque's domination of the drivers' world championship since the advent of the Group A era of the sport in 1987.

In 1991, Sainz narrowly failed to defend his title against a resurgent Lancia-mounted Kankkunen, his efforts capped by a dramatic roll of his Celica in Australia which left him in a neckbrace. Both Sainz and Kankkunen took five wins, the first time in the history of the WRC that two drivers had managed such a win tally during one season. Sainz led Kankkunen by one point going into the final round of the season, the RAC Rally, where Kankkunen took his third title by winning ahead of Kenneth Eriksson and Sainz. Kankkunen's and Sainz's point totals, 150 and 143, both broke the record set by Sainz a year earlier (140).

Aboard the new ST185 Toyota Celica in the 1992 season, in a year that would prove the last for the foreseeable future for Lancia, Sainz managed to score memorable victories on the Safari Rally and on his home asphalt round, the Rally Catalunya. The title fight again went down to the wire, and this time in a three-way battle; before the RAC, Sainz led Kankkunen by two points and Auriol, who had taken a record six wins during the season, by three points. Sainz's victory ahead of Ari Vatanen and Kankkunen, combined with Auriol's retirement, confirmed the title in favour of the Spaniard.

A limited number of 440 Celica GT-Four ST185s, carrying his name on a plaque in the vehicle, and with decals on the outside, were sold in the United Kingdom in 1992 in an attempt to capitalise on Sainz's two championship successes with the works team. These were the part of the 5,000 units of ST185 for WRC homologation. It is said that Sainz still keeps a Celica GT-Four given to him by Toyota, which he drives to Real Madrid games at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

Lancia (1993)

A Replica of an ex-Sainz Lancia Delta HF Integrale during Lancia centenary celebrations in Turin

Despite winning the world title Sainz left Toyota at the end of 1992, mainly because for the 1993 season the team was to be sponsored by Castrol, a rival to Sainz's personal sponsor, Repsol. Sainz therefore moved to the private but Lancia-backed Jolly Club. Lancia had won the manufacturers' championship for the previous six years, but the Delta was an ageing design and technical developments during the season were minor, despite assurances given to Sainz that development would continue. The Delta therefore lost ground to newer cars, and became less and less competitive as 1993 wore on. Sainz's only podium finish was his second place at the Acropolis Rally. He finished second on the San Remo Rally, but he and his teammate were later disqualified for using illegal fuel. [11] He finished eighth in the drivers' championship, which was won by Toyota driver Juha Kankkunen. Lancia withdrew from the sport altogether at the end of the season.

Subaru (1994–1995)

Sainz then chose to drive for the then fledgling Subaru World Rally Team in 1994, where he replaced Ari Vatanen. Sainz's experience, perfectionism and abilities as a development driver played a vital role in developing the then-new Impreza to the point where it could mount a sustained challenge to Toyota and Ford. Indeed, in the hands of Sainz and Colin McRae the Subarus were frequently faster than the Fords during the season. Toyota won the manufacturers' title, but the drivers' championship was only settled on the final round, with Didier Auriol winning ahead of Sainz. In the 1995 season, he won the Monte Carlo Rally, the Rally Portugal and the Rally Catalunya. At this latter event he was trailing his teammate Colin McRae until the team ordered the Scotsman to slow down and allow Sainz to win, which led to a dispute between the drivers. Nevertheless, they were tied for the lead in the drivers' world championship going into the season-ending RAC Rally. McRae won his home event 36 seconds ahead of Sainz, despite losing time with mechanical difficulties that at one stage had put him two minutes behind. Subaru secured their first manufacturers' title with a triple win as the team's second young Briton, Richard Burns, finished third. Sainz was later to join McRae at both Ford and Citroën.

Return to Ford (1996–1997)

Sainz driving an Escort RS Cosworth at the 1996 1000 Lakes

Sainz responded by rejoining Ford for the 1996 season. He spent two seasons with the squad, aboard the Ford Escort RS Cosworth and later, the Escort World Rally Car. In 1996, he won the inaugural Rally Indonesia and with five other podium finishes to his name, he took third place in the drivers' world championship, behind Mitsubishi's Tommi Mäkinen and Subaru's McRae. In the 1997 season, he again won the Indonesian round, along with the Acropolis Rally, but again lost the title fight to Mäkinen and McRae. However, he won the Race of Champions at the end of 1997.

Return to Toyota (1998–1999)

Sainz with a Toyota Corolla WRC at the 1999 Monte Carlo Rally

Sainz then departed, once again, for Toyota, partnering Didier Auriol and helping to further the Corolla World Rally Car project that had been instituted in 1997, as part of the Cologne based team's recovery from the embarrassment of exclusion from the world championship on the penultimate round of the 1995 season.

Sainz won on his first outing for them, on the 1998 season opener Monte Carlo Rally, and later in the season, added a victory in New Zealand. The seemingly terminal blow to title rival Tommi Mäkinen's chances was his retirement on the first day of the final event of the year, the Rally Great Britain, which gave the initiative to Sainz, who now only had to finish fourth in order to ensure the title. However, just 300 metres from the finish of the last stage, he too was forced to retire from the needed fourth place with a mechanical problem. As a result, both Sainz and Toyota gifted their respective titles to rivals Mäkinen and Mitsubishi Ralliart. [12]

An ex-Sainz Corolla WRC at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show

A subdued season followed for Sainz in 1999, although it did at least culminate in a departing manufacturers' title for Toyota, by now fostering alternative interests in Formula One. Sainz took a total of eight podiums, but no wins, and finished fifth in the drivers' standings, behind his third-placed teammate Auriol who had taken his only win of the season at the inaugural China Rally.

Second return to Ford (2000–2002)

Sainz driving his Ford Focus WRC at the 2001 Rally Finland

This was the precursor of another, three-year stint with Ford, again alongside McRae, beginning with the 2000 season. He won the inaugural edition of the Cyprus round of the world championship, and finished third in the drivers' points standings.

Sainz failed to score a victory on any rally during the 2001 season, but with five podiums and four other point-scoring finishes, he managed to keep himself in the title fight throughout the very closely contested season, eventually finishing sixth in the standings, only eleven points adrift of the champion, Subaru's Richard Burns. Meanwhile, teammate McRae took three wins and led the championship before the season-ending Rally GB, where McRae crashed out. Ford also lost the manufacturer's title to Peugeot.

In 2002, Sainz inherited the victory of the Rally Argentina, having provisionally finished third, due to the disqualifications of the two leading Peugeots of Marcus Grönholm and Burns. This was his only win of the season, and in a close fight for second place in the drivers' championship, behind the dominant Grönholm, Sainz finished third, one point ahead of his teammate McRae.

Citroën (2003–2005)

Sainz with a Citroën Xsara WRC at the 2004 Rally Finland

Effectively frozen out along with McRae at Ford, he along with the Scot moved to Citroën for the 2003, during which he scored one win in Turkey – which was the first gravel event win for Citroën Xsara WRC – and finished third in the championship. Sainz continued with the team in 2004 season, and scored his final world rally victory at the 2004 Rally Argentina. During the Rally Catalonya 2004, after announcing his retirement, Sainz was considered by drivers, codrivers and directors of the official teams, as the best rally driver of history. [13] In the championship, Sainz finished fourth, after missing out the final rally in Australia, due an accident during pre-event recce. [14]

Despite formally retiring at the end of the 2004 season, with a possible view to moving into the World Touring Car Championship, he was to actually find himself invited back to the WRC fold on the request of Citroën, to replace the faltering Belgian driver François Duval. Although Duval was soon to reclaim his seat, Sainz's two rallies back in the Citroën impressed many, with the now 43-year-old Spaniard posting fourth and third finishing positions respectively.

Later career in rally raid

2006 saw a first participation for Sainz at the wheel of a Volkswagen in that year's Dakar Rally, sharing the cockpit with the two times winner of the Dakar Rally, Andreas Schulz. In 2007, he repeated his attempt with Volkswagen, this time with French Michel Perin, also a former winner of the raid. Following the resignation of Fernando Martin, he even ran, eventually in vain, for the vice-president position at his beloved football club Real Madrid, for which he once trained. In 2007 Sainz won the FIA Cross-Country Rally World Cup with the Volkswagen team. In 2008, he won the Central Europe Rally, which was the relocated and rescheduled Dakar Rally for that year because of a terrorist attack. [15] In January 2009, partnering again with Perin, he led the Dakar Rally until crashing out on the 12th stage. [16] Later in 2009 Sainz won Silk Way Rally with Volkswagen team. [17] At the 2010 Dakar Rally, Sainz changed again co-pilot, teaming with fellow Spaniard Lucas Cruz. Sainz edged out teammate Nasser Al-Attiyah to take his maiden win in the event. [18] In 2010 Sainz also won the Silk Way Rally for the second time. [19] In the 2011 Dakar Rally Sainz finished third. [20]

Sainz entered Dakar Rally 2013 in a brand-new two-wheel-drive buggy. His teammate was former Dakar-winner Nasser Al-Attiyah and the team was supported by Qatar and Red Bull. [21] Sainz won the first stage, but faced later various problems and was finally forced to retire on the sixth stage due to an engine failure. [22] After the retirement Sainz commented that despite the result, "it was worth coming here with this concept ... I hope the experience will be useful for the future even if I'm not sure whether I'll come back”. [23] However, later Sainz announced he would like to be part of Qatar Red Bull Rally Team and return to the Dakar in 2014. [24] Sainz took part in the 2014 Dakar, but was forced to retire after a crash on stage 10. [25]

In March 2014 it was announced that Peugeot Sport would return to Dakar in 2015 and Sainz joined Cyril Despres to race for Peugeot, driving its Peugeot 2008 DKR. [26] [27] In the rally he retired after a crash. [28] In Dakar 2016 Sainz was forced to retire from the lead after the gearbox of his Peugeot broke. [29] In 2017 Sainz also had to retire after rolling his Peugeot during the fourth stage of the rally. [30] In 2018, Sainz took the second Dakar win of his career with Peugeot team. [31]

After Peugeot shut down its rally raid programme, Sainz joined X-Raid to drive a Mini at the 2019 Dakar Rally. [32] He stuck the car in a large hole on stage 3, damaging the suspension, but limped to the end of the stage and finished the event 13th.

Sainz won his third Dakar Rally in 2020, with co-driver Lucas Cruz. The duo registered four stage wins to their name, before finally winning the race with a lead of just 6 minutes and 21 seconds. [33]

Sainz returned to the Dakar Rally in 2021 with Mini, recording three stage victories on the way to an overall third-place finish. [34]

After joining Audi in 2022, Sainz won his fourth Dakar Rally in 2024, becoming the oldest Dakar winner at age 61. [35]

Volkswagen's WRC project

As Volkswagen Motorsport announced its WRC entry for 2013, Sainz was announced to be part of the WRC project. Volkswagen's motorsport director Kris Nissen told that he needed "10 seconds" to convince Sainz to remain part of the company's efforts in the new programme. Nissen told that the team would need Sainz for some testing of the new car. [36] In November 2011, Sainz had the honour to drive first kilometres with the new Volkswagen Polo R WRC near Trier, Germany, when the team began testing the new car. [37] In late 2011, Nissen also revealed he would like to see Sainz taking part in some rally with the WRC Polo before he calls time on his career. [38] In early 2012 Sainz drove the Polo WRC in its maiden gravel test in Spain with Sébastien Ogier [39] and in summer he tested the Polo WRC in Finland. [40] In October Sainz re-joined his old co-driver Luis Moya to perform course car duties on the San Marino´s annual Rally Legend event with Volkswagen's new-for-2013 Polo R WRC. [41] In December 2012 Sainz dismissed rumours he would drive a Polo WRC in some of the WRC-rallies in 2013, but stated he was available for testing, if needed. [42]

Sainz returned to competing in 2012, as he entered a historic rally with his old co-driver Luis Moya in Spain. The pair competed in a Porsche 911 rally car and won the rally. [43] The pair made a return to historic rallies in March 2013 by winning Rally de España Histórico with a Porsche 911. [44]

Sainz XE Team

Spain Acciona | Sainz XE Team
FoundedNovember 2020; 3 years ago (2020-11)
No.55
Current series Extreme E
Current drivers Spain Laia Sanz
Jamaica Fraser McConnell
Noted drivers Spain Carlos Sainz Sr.
Sweden Mattias Ekström
Races20
Wins2
Podiums9
Best qualifiers4
Super sectors3
Points337
First entry2021 Desert X-Prix
Last entry2023 Copper X-Prix
First win2023 Desert X-Prix
Last win2023 Island X-Prix II
Website https://accionasainzxeteam.com/en

In November 2020, it was announced that Sainz would team up with QEV Technologies to form Acciona | Sainz XE Team to join the all-electric SUV off-road racing series Extreme E in the inaugural season with Laia Sanz and himself as the drivers line-up. [45] The team made its Extreme E debut at the 2021 Desert X-Prix and achieved a podium finish at the Arctic X-Prix. The team finished in sixth in the teams championship. The team maintained the drivers line-up for the 2022 season and achieved two podiums at the Desert and Copper X-Prixs. The team finished in third in the teams' championship.

The team again maintained the drivers line-up for the 2023 season. [46] However, in January 2023, Sainz suffered multiple spinal fractures after crashing at the Dakar Rally and was replaced by Mattias Ekström for the season. [47] The team started strongly at the Desert X-Prix – in Round 1, the team qualified the fastest, achieved a super sector and finished the race in second place. In Round 2, the team won their first race in Extreme E. [48] The team won its second race in Round 7 at the Island X-Prix II. [49] At the final two rounds of the season, the team finished in second and suffered a DNF respectively, losing the championship to RXR by 11 points. [50] [51]

For the 2024 season, Ekström moved to McLaren XE and was replaced by Fraser McConnell. [52] [53]

Racing overview

Year Name Car Tyres No. G. Drivers Rounds Pts. Pos.
2021 Spain Acciona | Sainz XE Team Spark Odyssey 21 C 55. F Spain Laia Sanz (1–5) 100 6th
M Spain Carlos Sainz Sr. (1–5)
2022 Spain Acciona | Sainz XE Team Spark Odyssey 21 C 55. F Spain Laia Sanz (1–5) 66 3rd
M Spain Carlos Sainz Sr. (1–5)
2023 Spain Acciona | Sainz XE Team Spark Odyssey 21 C 55. F Spain Laia Sanz (1–10) 171 2nd
M Sweden Mattias Ekström (1–10)

Racing summary

Year Series Races Wins Pod. B/Qual. S/S Pts. Pos.
2021 Extreme E 5 0 1 0 0 100 6th
2022 Extreme E 5 0 2 0 0 66 3rd
2023 Extreme E 10 2 6 4 3 171 2nd
Total 20 2 9 4 3 337

Complete Extreme E results

(Races in bold indicate best qualifiers; races in italics indicate fastest super sector)

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Pts. Pos.
2021 Acciona | Sainz XE Team DES
Saudi Arabia
4
OCE
Senegal
8
ARC
Greenland
3
ISL
Italy
7
JUR
United Kingdom
7
100 6th
2022 Acciona | Sainz XE Team DES
Saudi Arabia
2
ISL1
Italy
4
ISL2
Italy
4
COP
Chile
2
ENE
Uruguay
7
66 3rd
2023 Acciona | Sainz XE Team DES1
Saudi Arabia
2
DES2
Saudi Arabia
1
HYD1
Scotland
6
HYD2
Scotland
4
ISL-I1
Italy
2
ISL-I2
Italy
2
ISL-II1
Italy
1
ISL-II2
Italy
9
COP1
Chile
2
COP2
Chile
4
171 2nd

Recognitions

Titles

Sainz driving a Volkswagen Race Touareg during the 2007 Dakar Rally.
Season Title Car
1987 Spanish Rally Champion Ford Sierra RS Cosworth
1988 Spanish Rally Champion Ford Sierra RS Cosworth
1990 Asia-Pacific Rally Champion Toyota Celica GT-Four ST165
1990 World Rally Champion Toyota Celica GT-Four ST165
1992 World Rally Champion Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD ST185
1997 Champion of Champions Various
2007 FIA Cross-Country Rally World Cup [60] Volkswagen Race Touareg
2008 Central Europe Rally (cars) Volkswagen Race Touareg
2010 2010 Dakar Rally Winner (cars) [61] Volkswagen Race Touareg
2018 2018 Dakar Rally Winner (cars) Peugeot 3008 DKR Maxi
2020 2020 Dakar Rally Winner (cars) Mini John Cooper Works Buggy
2024 2024 Dakar Rally Winner (cars) Audi RS Q e-tron

WRC victories

 #  Event Season Co-driver Car
1 Greece Acropolis Rally 1990 Luis Moya Toyota Celica GT-Four ST165
2 New Zealand Rally New Zealand 1990 Luis Moya Toyota Celica GT-Four ST165
3 Finland 1000 Lakes Rally 1990 Luis Moya Toyota Celica GT-Four ST165
4 United Kingdom RAC Rally 1990 Luis Moya Toyota Celica GT-Four ST165
5 Monaco Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo 1991 Luis Moya Toyota Celica GT-Four ST165
6 Portugal Rallye de Portugal 1991 Luis Moya Toyota Celica GT-Four ST165
7 France Tour de Corse – Rallye de France 1991 Luis Moya Toyota Celica GT-Four ST165
8 New Zealand Rally New Zealand 1991 Luis Moya Toyota Celica GT-Four ST165
9 Argentina Rally Argentina 1991 Luis Moya Toyota Celica GT-Four ST165
10 Kenya Safari Rally 1992 Luis Moya Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD
11 New Zealand Rally New Zealand 1992 Luis Moya Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD
12 Spain Rallye Catalunya-Costa Brava (Rallye de España) 1992 Luis Moya Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD
13 United Kingdom RAC Rally 1992 Luis Moya Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD
14 Greece Acropolis Rally 1994 Luis Moya Subaru Impreza 555
15 Monaco Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo 1995 Luis Moya Subaru Impreza 555
16 Portugal Rallye de Portugal 1995 Luis Moya Subaru Impreza 555
17 Spain Rallye Catalunya-Costa Brava (Rallye de España) 1995 Luis Moya Subaru Impreza 555
18 Indonesia Rally Indonesia 1996 Luis Moya Ford Escort RS Cosworth
19 Greece Acropolis Rally 1997 Luis Moya Ford Escort WRC
20 Indonesia Rally Indonesia 1997 Luis Moya Ford Escort WRC
21 Monaco Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo 1998 Luis Moya Toyota Corolla WRC
22 New Zealand Rally New Zealand 1998 Luis Moya Toyota Corolla WRC
23 Cyprus Cyprus Rally 2000 Luis Moya Ford Focus RS WRC 00
24 Argentina Rally Argentina 2002 Luis Moya Ford Focus RS WRC 02
25 Turkey Rally of Turkey 2003 Marc Martí Citroën Xsara WRC
26 Argentina Rally Argentina 2004 Marc Martí Citroën Xsara WRC

Complete WRC results

Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Pos Points
1987 Marlboro Rally Team Ford Sierra RS Cosworth MON SWE POR
Ret
KEN FRA
7
GRC USA NZL ARG FIN CIV ITA 35th 7
RAC de España GBR
8
1988 Carlos Sainz Ford Sierra RS Cosworth MON SWE POR
Ret
11th 26
Ford Motor Co KEN FRA
5
GRC USA NZL ARG FIN
6
CIV ITA
5
GBR
7
1989 Toyota Team Europe Toyota Celica GT-Four ST165 SWE MON
Ret
POR
Ret
KEN FRA
Ret
GRC
Ret
NZL ARG FIN
3
AUS ITA
3
CIV GBR
2
8th 39
1990 Toyota Team Europe Toyota Celica GT-Four ST165 MON
2
POR
Ret
KEN
4
FRA
2
GRC
1
NZL
1
ARG
2
FIN
1
AUS
2
ITA
3
CIV GBR
1
1st 140
1991 Toyota Team Europe Toyota Celica GT-Four ST165 MON
1
SWE POR
1
KEN
Ret
FRA
1
GRC
2
NZL
1
ARG
1
FIN
4
AUS
Ret
ITA
6
CIV ESP
Ret
GBR
3
2nd 143
1992 Toyota Team Europe Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD MON
2
SWE POR
3
KEN
1
FRA
4
GRC
Ret
NZL
1
ARG
2
FIN AUS
3
ITA CIV ESP
1
GBR
1
1st 144
1993 Jolly Club Lancia Delta HF Integrale MON
14
SWE POR
Ret
KEN FRA
4
GRC
2
ARG
Ret
NZL
4
FIN AUS
Ret
ITA
DSQ
ESP
Ret
GBR 8th 35
1994 555 Subaru World Rally Team Subaru Impreza 555 MON
3
POR
4
KEN FRA
2
GRC
1
ARG
2
NZL
Ret
FIN
3
ITA
2
GBR
Ret
2nd 99
1995 555 Subaru World Rally Team Subaru Impreza 555 MON
1
SWE
Ret
POR
1
FRA
4
NZL AUS
Ret
ESP
1
GBR
2
2nd 85
1996 Ford Motor Co Ford Escort RS Cosworth SWE
2
KEN
Ret
IDN
1
GRC
3
ARG
2
FIN
Ret
AUS
3
ITA
2
ESP
Ret
3rd 89
1997 Ford Motor Co Ford Escort WRC MON
2
SWE
2
KEN
Ret
POR
Ret
ESP
10
FRA
2
ARG
Ret
GRC
1
NZL
2
FIN
Ret
IDN
1
ITA
4
AUS
Ret
GBR
3
3rd 51
1998 Toyota Castrol Team Toyota Corolla WRC MON
1
SWE
2
KEN
Ret
POR
2
ESP
7
FRA
8
ARG
2
GRC
4
NZL
1
FIN
2
ITA
4
AUS
2
GBR
Ret
2nd 56
1999 Toyota Castrol Team Toyota Corolla WRC MON
Ret
SWE
2
KEN
3
POR
2
ESP
Ret
FRA
3
ARG
5
GRC
2
NZL
6
FIN
3
CHN
3
ITA
Ret
AUS
2
GBR
Ret
5th 44
2000 Ford Motor Co Ford Focus RS WRC 00 MON
2
SWE
Ret
KEN
4
POR
3
ESP
3
ARG
Ret
GRC
2
NZL
3
FIN
14
CYP
1
FRA
3
ITA
5
AUS
DSQ
GBR
4
3rd 46
2001 Ford Motor Co Ford Focus RS WRC 01 MON
2
SWE
3
POR
2
ESP
5
ARG
3
CYP
3
GRC
Ret
KEN
Ret
FIN
6
NZL
4
ITA
4
FRA
Ret
AUS
8
GBR
WD
6th 33
2002 Ford Motor Co Ford Focus RS WRC 02 MON
3
SWE
3
FRA
6
ESP
Ret
CYP
11
ARG
1
GRC
3
KEN
Ret
FIN
4
GER
8
ITA
Ret
NZL
4
AUS
4
GBR
3
3rd 36
2003 Citroën Total Citroën Xsara WRC MON
3
SWE
9
TUR
1
NZL
12
ARG
2
GRC
2
CYP
5
GER
6
FIN
4
AUS
5
ITA
4
FRA
2
ESP
7
GBR
Ret
3rd 63
2004 Citroën Total Citroën Xsara WRC MON
Ret
SWE
5
MEX
3
NZL
6
CYP
3
GRC
19
TUR
4
ARG
1
FIN
3
GER
3
JPN
5
GBR
4
ITA
3
FRA
3
ESP
3
AUS
WD
4th 73
2005 Citroën Total Citroën Xsara WRC MON SWE MEX NZL ITA CYP TUR
4
GRC
3
ARG FIN GER GBR JPN FRA ESP AUS 13th 11

Dakar Rally results

Year Class Vehicle Position Stages won
2006 Car Germany Volkswagen 11th 4
2007 9th 5
2008 (CE) 1st 5
2009 DNF 6
2010 1st 2
2011 3rd 7
2012 did not enter
2013 Car United States Demon Jefferies DNF 1
2014 France SMG DNF 2
2015 France Peugeot DNF 0
2016 DNF 2
2017 DNF 0
2018 1st 2
2019 United Kingdom Mini 13th 1
2020 1st 4
2021 3rd 3
2022 Germany Audi 12th 2
2023 DNF 1
2024 1st 0

Dakar Rally stage wins

# Date From To Edition Co-Driver Car
1 31 December 2005 Portugal Lisbon Portugal Portimão 2006 Dakar Rally Germany Andreas Schulz Germany Volkswagen
2 1 January 2006 Portugal Portimão Spain Málaga Germany Andreas Schulz
3 3 January 2006 Morocco Er Rachidia Morocco Ouarzazate Germany Andreas Schulz
4 10 January 2006 Mauritania Kiffa Mali Kayes Germany Andreas Schulz
5 7 January 2007 Portugal Portimão Spain Málaga 2007 Dakar Rally France Michel Périn
6 10 January 2007 Morocco Ouarzazate Morocco Tan-Tan France Michel Périn
7 18 January 2007 Mauritania Ayoun el Atrous Mali Kayes France Michel Périn
8 19 January 2007 Mali Kayes Senegal Tambacounda France Michel Périn
9 20 January 2007 Senegal Tambacounda Senegal Dakar France Michel Périn
10 20 April 2008 Hungary Budapest Romania Baia Mare 2008 Central Europe Rally France Michel Périn
11 23 April 2008 Hungary Debrecen Hungary Veszprém France Michel Périn
12 24 April 2008 Hungary Veszprém Hungary Veszprém France Michel Périn
13 25 April 2008 Hungary Veszprém Hungary Veszprém France Michel Périn
14 26 April 2008 Hungary Veszprém Hungary Balatonfüred France Michel Périn
15 4 January 2009 Argentina Santa Rosa Argentina Puerto Madryn 2009 Dakar Rally France Michel Périn
16 6 January 2009 Argentina Jacobacci Argentina Neuquén France Michel Périn
17 9 January 2009 Argentina Mendoza Chile Valparaíso France Michel Périn
18 11 January 2009 Chile Valparaíso Chile La Serena France Michel Périn
19 12 January 2009 Chile La Serena Chile Copiapó France Michel Périn
20 13 January 2009 Chile Copiapó Chile Copiapó France Michel Périn
21 12 January 2010 Chile La Serena Chile Santiago 2010 Dakar Rally Spain Lucas Cruz
22 14 January 2010 Argentina San Juan Argentina San Rafael Spain Lucas Cruz
23 2 January 2011 Argentina Buenos Aires Argentina Córdoba 2011 Dakar Rally Spain Lucas Cruz
24 3 January 2011 Argentina Córdoba Argentina San Miguel de Tucumán Spain Lucas Cruz
25 5 January 2011 Argentina San Salvador de Jujuy Chile Calama Spain Lucas Cruz
26 7 January 2011 Chile Iquique Chile Arica Spain Lucas Cruz
27 11 January 2011 Chile Copiapó Chile Copiapó Spain Lucas Cruz
28 14 January 2011 Argentina San Juan Argentina Córdoba Spain Lucas Cruz
29 15 January 2011 Argentina Córdoba Argentina Buenos Aires Spain Lucas Cruz
30 5 January 2013 Peru Lima Peru Pisco 2013 Dakar Rally Germany Timo Gottschalk United States Demon Jefferies
31 8 January 2014 Argentina San Juan Argentina Chilecito 2014 Dakar Rally Germany Timo Gottschalk France SMG
32 12 January 2014 Argentina Salta Argentina Salta Germany Timo Gottschalk
33 9 January 2016 Bolivia Uyuni Argentina Salta 2016 Dakar Rally Spain Lucas Cruz France Peugeot
34 12 January 2016 Argentina Belén Argentina Belén Spain Lucas Cruz
35 11 January 2018 Peru Arequipa Bolivia La Paz 2018 Dakar Rally Spain Lucas Cruz
36 13 January 2018 Bolivia La Paz Bolivia Uyuni Spain Lucas Cruz
37 17 January 2019 Peru Pisco Peru Lima 2019 Dakar Rally Spain Lucas Cruz United Kingdom Mini
38 7 January 2020 Saudi Arabia Neom Saudi Arabia Neom 2020 Dakar Rally Spain Lucas Cruz
39 9 January 2020 Saudi Arabia Al-ʿUla Saudi Arabia Ha'il Spain Lucas Cruz
40 12 January 2020 Saudi Arabia Riyadh Saudi Arabia Wadi Al Dwasir Spain Lucas Cruz
41 15 January 2020 Saudi Arabia Haradh Saudi Arabia Shubaytah Spain Lucas Cruz
42 3 January 2021 Saudi Arabia Jeddah Saudi Arabia Bisha 2021 Dakar Rally Spain Lucas Cruz
43 8 January 2021 Saudi Arabia Buraydah Saudi Arabia Ha'il Spain Lucas Cruz
44 14 January 2021 Saudi Arabia Yanbu Saudi Arabia Jeddah Spain Lucas Cruz
45 4 January 2022 Saudi Arabia Al Qaisumah Saudi Arabia Al Qaisumah 2022 Dakar Rally Spain Lucas Cruz Germany Audi
46 13 January 2022 Saudi Arabia Bisha Saudi Arabia Bisha Spain Lucas Cruz
47 1 January 2023 Saudi Arabia Sea Camp Saudi Arabia Sea Camp 2023 Dakar Rally Spain Lucas Cruz

NOTE: Following the 2007 killing of French tourists in Mauritania, the Amaury Sport Organisation moved the 2008 edition to Central Europe, known as the 2008 Central Europe Rally. As the race was legally held under Dakar regulations with Dakar entries, the rally is included as part of the Dakar lineage.

Complete Extreme E results

( key)

Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Pos. Points
2021 Acciona | Sainz XE Team Spark ODYSSEY 21 DES
Q

2
DES
R

4
OCE
Q

9
OCE
R

8
ARC
Q

6
ARC
R

3
ISL
Q

4
ISL
R

7
JUR
Q

3
JUR
R

5
5th 90
2022 Acciona | Sainz XE Team Spark ODYSSEY 21 DES
2
ISL1
4
ISL2
4
COP
2
ENE
7
3rd 60

Complete World Rally-Raid Championship results

( key)

Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 Pos. Points
2023 Team Audi Sport Audi RS Q e-tron E2 T1+ DAK
Ret
ABU SON DES MOR
12
21st 11
2024 Team Audi Sport Audi RS Q e-tron T1+ DAK
1
ABU PRT DES MOR

References

  1. ^ According to World Rally Archive, Sainz won 756 stages. Sainz also won one special stage in Safari Rally 1991 (source: Auto Hebdo), that is not yet taken into account by www.juwra.com.
  2. ^ "Team Peugeot Total - The team". redbull.com. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  3. ^ "Carlos Sainz, premio Princesa de Asturias de los deportes". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 16 June 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  4. ^ "Record-breaker Anttila". Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  5. ^ "Carlos Sainz". Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  6. ^ "Antonio Sainz - eWRC-results.com".
  7. ^ "Historic Vltava Rallye 2019".
  8. ^ "Driver profile: Carlos Sainz". WRC.com. Archived from the original on 23 November 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
  9. ^ "Multi-faceted biography characterises amazing talent, Carlos Sainz!". race-deZert.com. 7 December 2009. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  10. ^ "Carlos Sainz". RallyBase. Archived from the original on 12 February 2009. Retrieved 17 November 2008.
  11. ^ http://www.juwra.com/san_remo_1993_results.html[ bare URL]
  12. ^ FIA World Rally Championship HISTORY REVIEW/ Wales Rally GB 2013 - Rally of Legends YouTube, 10 November 2013
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  14. ^ Sainz to miss Australia Crash.net, 10 November 2004; Retrieved 28 March 2013
  15. ^ The film of the stage Central Europe Rally 2008 Archived 30 April 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  16. ^ "Carlos Sainz crashes out of Dakar Rally". The Telegraph. 15 January 2009. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2009.
  17. ^ classements Silk Way Rally 2009 Archived 23 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine retrieved 14 September 2009
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  19. ^ "SILK WAY RALLY 2010 SAINT-PETERSBURG - SOCHI". Silk Way Rally. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
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  23. ^ Stage 6 Quotes: Dakar Dakar.com Archived 13 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine
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  25. ^ Dakar: Nasser Al-Attiyah wins stage 10 as Carlos Sainz crashes out Autosport, 15 January 2014; Retrieved 29 March 2014
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  32. ^ Peugeot refugee Sainz joins X-raid Mini for 2019 Dakar Rally - Sergio Lillo, Motorsport.com, 29 August 2018
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  36. ^ Polo WRC will run this year AutoSport, 5 May 2011; Retrieved 3 June 2011
  37. ^ First outing: Volkswagen starts testing progremme with Polo R WRC MotorSport.com Archived 1 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 10 November 2011
  38. ^ World Rally Championship – Nissen to offer Vettel WRC test Archived 22 November 2018 at the Wayback Machine WRC.com; Retrieved 30 December 2011
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  43. ^ WRC legend Sainz back to winning ways Archived 22 November 2018 at the Wayback Machine WRC.com; Retrieved 20 September 2012
  44. ^ Carlos Sainz vuelve a imponerse en el Rallye de España con un Porsche 911 Archived 22 November 2018 at the Wayback Machine Carlos-Sainz.com; Retrieved 2 March 2013 (in Spanish)
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  54. ^ Hemeroteca Mundo Deportivo
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  56. ^ Monnaie de Paris
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External links

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Autosport
International Rally Driver Award

1990–1991
Succeeded by
Sporting positions
Preceded by World Rally Champion
1990
Succeeded by
Preceded by Asia-Pacific Rally Champion
1990
Succeeded by
Preceded by World Rally Champion
1992
Succeeded by
Preceded by Race of Champions
Champion of Champions

1997
Succeeded by
Preceded by Dakar Rally
Car Winner

2008 ( CE)
Succeeded by
Preceded by Dakar Rally
Car Winner

2010
Succeeded by
Preceded by Dakar Rally
Car Winner

2018
Succeeded by
Preceded by Dakar Rally
Car Winner

2020
Succeeded by
Records
Preceded by
Juha Kankkunen
153 starts
( 1979, 19822002, 2010)
Most rally starts
196 starts,

( 19872005)
154th at the 2002 Tour de Corse
Succeeded by
Jari-Matti Latvala
209 starts
197th at the 2019 Rally Sweden
Preceded by
Colin McRae
25 wins
( 19872003, 20052006)
Most rally wins
26 wins,

26th at the 2004 Rally Argentina
Succeeded by