N° 303 - TEAM VOLKSWAGEN MOTORSPORT I
- SAINZ
- Carlos
- ESP
- 12/04/1962
|
- CRUZ
- Lucas
- ESP
|
| MODEL |
MAKE |
| Race Touareg 2 |
VOLKSWAGEN |
|
|
| |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
|
| Scratch |
2
|
4
|
2
|
4
|
2
|
2
|
3
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
9
|
1
|
4
|
2
|
| Stage |
2
|
4
|
2
|
4
|
2
|
2
|
3
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
9
|
1
|
4
|
2
|
-
|
| Overall |
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
-
|
«Winning is alwasy the goal»
Carlos Sainz built his fame and long list of achievements on the asphalt and gravel tracks of the world rally championship. After two world titles (1990 &1992), 26 victories and 97 top three results, ‘El Matador’ was then enthralled by the challenge of the Dakar. 43 year old Carlos Sainz made his Dakar debut in 2006 with a reputation as an eternal contender for the win. The adaptation period for the fiery Spaniard was a short one. Winner of four stages on the route headed to Dakar, he concluded his maiden attempt 11th overall, ten hours behind Luc Alphand. In 2007, he took five more stage wins, but his victory hopes were dashed in the desert sand of Mauritania. In two days, Sainz lost nearly eight hours to the leaders. But he bounced back and went on to capture the world cross-country crown, before going on to win the Dakar Series Central European Rally ahead of Stéphane Peterhansel.
The first Dakar in South America was not to be his either. His thundering form early on (six wins from 10 stages) came to a sudden end at kilometre 79 of stage 12, just when it looked as if the most difficult portion of the rally was behind him, at the bottom of a Rio. Always the competitors, Carlos Sainz did score two significant victories in 2009: the Dos Sertoes Rally and the Silk Way. “Winning is always the goal. And this year there is a title to defend. I am very well prepared. And I am teaming with Lucas Cruz: having a co-driver who speaks the same language makes it a lot easier.” Always on the attack, Carlos Sainz says he wants to “drive at his own pace” and he is concerned about BMW “who was already giving us trouble last year.”
Dakar start photos on line: www.maindruphoto.com