Carlos Sainz

Carlos Sainz was born in Madrid on April 12, 1962.

When he was 16 years old, he won the Spanish squash championship. He studied in the Retamar School at Pozuelo de Alarcón and late in the University of Law for two years and then, motivated by his brother Antonio and his friends Juan Carlos Oñoro and Juanjo Lacalle, he quit his studies to work professionally as a racing driver.

He is married to Reyes Vázquez de Castro since 1992 and they have three children; Blanca (1993), Carlos (1994) and Ana (1998). Born to be a sportsman, he has always stood out for his great passion and ability in all kind of sports: football, golf, tennis, motocross, ski and squash.

However, the world of Rallies is where he really is an expert with an uncommon talent to turn a good car into a wining machine. He is the only Spanish driver to hold the World Rally Champion title, after winning the championship in1990 and 1992.

In 2007, he added a new title to his track record when he won the Transiberico Rally; the FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup. In 2010, Sainz enlarged his legend with his victory in the Dakar Rally and became the first Spanish driver to win it in the car category, milestone that he repeated in 2018, when he achieved his second victory in the 40th edition of the Dakar Rally, the most harding race in South America.

In 2019 he joined the MINI X Raid team where he started working with the MINI JCW Buggy. On the last Dakar in South America things didn’t go as he wanted and mechanical problems took him away from the fight for victory. From here he started with the tuning of the MINI where good results were already seen in the Morocco Rally where he finished second.

In the 2020 Dakar, he achieved a great victory, dominating practically the entire event, winning four stages and being the first winner of the new era of the Dakar in Saudi Arabia and managing to win the legendary Dakar with three different manufacturers: Volkswagen, Peugeot and MINI.

Achievements

2010	Continues with Volkswagen Motorsport team with Race Touareg. Win Rally Dakar Argentina-Chile Win Silkway Rally in Russia
2011	3rd Rally Dakar-Argentina-Chile-Perú Advisor and driver of development Volkswagen Motorsport 4th 500 km de Alcañiz with his son, Carlos Sainz Jr
2012	Win Rallye España Histórico with Porsche 911 Advisor and driver of development Volkswagen Motorsport
2013	1 stage victory in the Rally Dakar with Buggy Qatar Red Bull Win Rallye España Histórico with Porsche 911 Advisor and driver of development Volkswagen Motorsport
2014	2 victorias de etapa en el Rallye Dakar con el Buggy SMG Red Bull Ganador de la categoría de pilotos de rallyes del Verva Street Racing Dakar abandons due to accident
2015	Official diver of Team Peugeot Total for Rally Dakar
2016	Official diver of Team Peugeot Total for Rally Dakar 2 stage victoria in the Rally Dakar with Peugeot 2008 DKR 16 Abandoned Dakar mechanical failure
2017	Official diver of Team Peugeot Total for Abandoned Dakar for accident when leading the race
2018	Official diver of Team Peugeot Total for Rally Dakar Winner Rally Dakar with Peugeot 3008 DKR Maxi 2 stage victory in the Rally Dakar
2019	Dakar Rally Official Driver X-raid MINI JCW Team – Red Bull 1 stage victory with the Mini John Cooper Works Buggy Morocco Rally Bahrain JCW X-Raid Team Second place Dakar Rallye – 13th overall Two stage victories
2020	Official Driver Bahrain JCW X-Raid Team Dakar Rally winner with the Mini John Cooper Works Buggy Four stage victories
2021	Dakar Rally Official driver X-raid MINI JCW Team – Red Bull Third place Three stage wins with the Mini John Cooper Works Buggy
2023	Dakar Rally Official Audi driver First historic stage Dakar Rallye victory with an electric vehicle. 2 stage wins with the Audi RS Q e-tron 12 position

2000	Joins with FORD MARTINI MOVISTAR with FOCUS RS WRC. Continues with his personal sponsors: Fortuna and Campofrio. MONTE CARLO – 2nd Overall SWEDEN – Retired SAFARI (Kenya) – 4th Overall PORTUGAL – 3rd Overall ESPAÑA – CATALUNYA – 3rd Overall ARGENTINA -Retired GREECE – 2ndº Absoluto NEW ZEALAND – 3rd Overall FINLAND – 14th Overall CYPRUS – 1st Overall TOUR DE CORSE (France) – 3rd Overall SAN REMO (Italy) – 5th Overall AUSTRALIA – Retired RAC-ENGLAND – 4th Overall 3rd IN WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP
2001	Continues to fulfill its contract with FORD MARTINI MOVISTAR with FOCUS RS WRC. Continues with his personal sponsors: Fortuna and Campofrio. MONTE CARLO – 2nd Overall SWEDEN -3rd Overall PORTUGAL – 2nd Overall ESPAÑA – CATALUNYA -5th Overall ARGENTINA – 3rd Overall CYPRUS – 3rd Overall GREECE – Retired SAFARI (Kenya) – Retired FINLAND – 6th Overall NEW ZEALAND – 4th Overall SAN REMO (Italy) – 4th Overall TOUR DE CORSE (France) – Retired AUSTRALIA – 8th Overall RAC-ENGLAND – Retired 6th IN WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP SPORTS MERIT MEDAL GRAND CROSS OF THE ROYAL ORDER OF THE SPORT MERIT
2002	Renews his contract with FORD team for another year. MONTE CARLO – 3rd Overall SWEDEN – 3rd Overall TOUR DE CORSE (France) – 6th Overall ESPAÑA – CATALUNYA – Retired CYPRUS – 11th Overall ARGENTINA – 1st Overall GREECE – 3rd Overall SAFARI (Kenya) – Retired FINLAND – 4th Overall GERMANY – 8th Overall SAN REMO (Italy) – Retired NEW ZEALAND – 4th Overall AUSTRALIA – 4th Overall RAC-ENGLAND – 3rd Overall 3rd IN WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP
2003	World Rally Championship. Citroën official driver with Xsara WRC MONTE CARLO – 3rd Overall SWEDEN – 9th Overall TURKEY – 1st Overall NEW ZEALAND – 12th Overall ARGENTINA – 2nd Overall GREECE – 2nd Overall CYPRUS – 5th Overall GERMANY – 6th Overall FINLAND – 4th Overall AUSTRALIA – 5th Overall SAN REMO (Italy) – 4th Overall TOUR DE CORSE (France) – 2nd Overall ESPAÑA – CATALUNYA – 7th Overall RAC-ENGLAND – Retired 3rd IN WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP
2004	World Rally Championship. Citroën official driver with Xsara WRC MONTE CARLO – Retired SWEDEN – 5th Overall MÉXICO – 3rd Overall NEW ZEALAND – 6th Overall CYPRUS – 3rd Overall GREECE – 19th Overall TURKEYA – 4th Overall ARGENTINA- 1st Overall FINLAND – 3rd Overall GERMANY – 3rd Overall JAPAN – 5th Overall ENGLAND – 4th Overall SARDINIA (Italy) – 3rd Overall TOUR DE CORSE (France) – 3rd Overall ESPAÑA – CATALUNYA – 3rd Overall 4th IN WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP
2005	Compete only two races of World Rally Championship with Citroën Xsara WRC. TURKEY – 4th Overall GREECE – 3rd Overall TOTAL WINS: 26 SECOND PLACES: 36 THIRD PLACES: 35 PODIUMS: 97 Carlos Sainz joins for Volkswagen Motorsport for compete in Dakar Rally 2006. 3rd in Baja Portugal
2006	Compete in Rally Lisboa-Dakar, win four stage with Volkswagen Touareg, 11th. Morocco Rally. Retired
2007	Compete in Rally Lisboa-Dakar with Volkswagen Touareg, win five stage, 9th. 1st Rally Transibérico (Portugal) 2nd Morocco Rally 2nd Rally UAE Desert Challenge (Dubai) CHAMPION OF THE FIA’S WORLD CUP RALLY CROSS COUNTRY. Winner Rally Shalymar with Skoda Fabia WRC
2008	Continues with Volkswagen Motorsport team with Race Touareg. 1st Central European Rally (Romania and Hungary) Compete in Nurburgring 24 hours with Volkswagen Sirocco 2nd with class 14th overral 2nd Pax Rally Portugal The Dakar is suspended for safety reasons
2009	Continues with Volkswagen Motorsport team with Race Touareg. 1st Rallye Dos Sertoes, Brazil. 1st Silk Way Rally, Russia. Retired in Rally Dakar by accident

1990	Renews his contract with TOYOTA TEAM EUROPE and becomes the first team driver with the same car. Results in the World Rally Championship: MONTE CARLO – 2nd Overall PORTUGAL – Retired SAFARI (Kenya) – 4th Overall TOUR DE CORSE (France) – 2nd Overall ACRÓPOLIS (Greece) – 1st Overall NEW ZEALAND – 1st Overall ARGENTINA – 2nd Overall 1000 LAKES (Finland) – 1st Overall AUSTRALIA – 2nd Overall SAN REMO (Italy) – 3rd Overall LOMBARD RAC (UK) – 1st Overall With his victory in New Zealand and its second places in Australia is proclaimed: ASIA-PACIFIC RALLY CHAMPION WORLD RALLY CHAMPION
1991	Continued as first driver in TOYOTA, with OVE ANDERSSON team principal and with the same CELICA. Results in the World Rally Championship: MONTE CARLO – 1st Overall PORTUGAL – 1st Overall SAFARI (Kenya) – Retired by engine failure on 5th Stage when he was leader TOUR DE CORSE (France) – 1st Overall ACRÓPOLIS (Greece) – 2nd Overall NUEVA ZELANDA – 1st Overall ARGENTINA – 1st Overall 1000 LAGOS (Finland) – 5th Overall AUSTRALIA – Retired SAN REMO (Italy) – 3rd Overall CATALONIA (Spain) – Retired LOMBARD RAC (UK) – 3rd Overall WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP’S RUNNER UP
1992	Another year in the TOYOTA TEAM EUROPE with new “CELICA TURBO 4WD CARLOS SAINZ LIMITED SERIES “. MONTE CARLO – 2nd Overall PORTUGAL – 3rd Overall SAFARI (Kenya) – 1st Overall TOUR DE CORSE – 4th Overall ACRÓPOLIS (Greece) – Retired NEW ZEALAND – 1st Overall ARGENTINA – 2nd Overall 1000 LAKES (Finland) – 5th Overall AUSTRALIA – 3rd Overall CATALONIA (Spain) – 1st Overall RAC (UK) – 1st Overall WORLD RALLY CHAMPION
1993	Joins with LANCIA JOLLY CLUB TEAM. MONTE CARLO – 14th Overall PORTUGAL – Retired SAFARI (Kenya) – Retired by engine failure on 5th Stage when he was leader TOUR DE CORSE (France) – 4th Overall ACRÓPOLIS (Greece) – 2nd Overall NEW ZEALAND – 4th Overall AUSTRALIA – Retired SAN REMO (Italy) – 2nd. Disqualified CATALONIA (Spain) – Retired
1994	Joins with PRODRIVE to compete in the World Rally Championship with SUBARU IMPREZA 555 Group A. MONTE CARLO – 3rd Overall PORTUGAL – 4th Overall TOUR DE CORSE (France) – 2nd Overall ACRÓPOLIS (Greece) – 1st Overall ARGENTINA – 2nd Overall NEW ZEALAND – Retired 1000 LAKES (Finland) – 3rd Overall SAN REMO (Italy) – 2nd Overall RAC (UK) – Retired WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP’S RUNNER UP
1995	Continued in the same team for compete in the eight rounds of World Rally Championship 1995. MONTE CARLO – 1st Overall SWEDEN – Retired PORTUGAL – 1st Overall TOUR DE CORSE – 4th Overall Suffers a strong injury in the shoulder that has to be operated, so you can not participate in the Rally of New Zealand. AUSTRALIA – Retired CATALONIA (Spain) – 1st Overall RAC (UK) – 2nd Overall WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP’S RUNNER UP
1996	Joins with Toyota Team Europe for three years, but but after they sanctioned this team by the FIA and not to run in the World Championship, returns to Ford. SWEDEN – 2nd Overall SAFARI (Kenya) – Retired INDONESIA – 1st Overall ACRÓPOLIS (Greece) – 3rd Overall ARGENTINA – 2nd Overall 1000 LAKES (Finland) – Retired AUSTRALIA – 3rd Overall SAN REMO (Italy) – 2nd Overall CATALONIA (Spain) – Retired 3rd IN WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP
1997	Continues to fulfill its contract with FORD with new”FORD ESCORT WORLD RALLY CAR” and the management of the team pass to the Boreham to Malcolm Wilson. MONTE CARLO – 2nd Overall SWEDEN – 2nd Overall SAFARI (Kenya) – Retired PORTUGAL – Retired ESPAÑA – CATALUNYA – 10th Overall TOUR DE CORSE (France) – 2nd Overall ARGENTINA – Retired ACRÓPOLIS (Greece) – 1st Overall NEW ZEALAND – 2nd Overall 1000 LAKES (Finland) – Retired INDONESIA – 1st Overall SAN REMO (Italy) – 4th Overall AUSTRALIA – Retired RAC (UK) – 3rd Overall 3rd IN WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP WINNER RACE OF CHAMPIONS
1998	Joins with TTE (TOYOTA TEAM EUROPE) for upcoming three seasons and continues with his personals sponsors Fortuna and Red Bull. Drive the COROLLA WRC and the spanish brand Movistar joins the Toyota-Castrol team with as a second sponsor. MONTE CARLO – 1st Overall SWEDEN – 2nd Overall SAFARI (Kenya) – Retired PORTUGAL – 2nd Overall ESPAÑA – CATALUNYA – 7th Overall TOUR DE CORSE (France) – 7th Overall ARGENTINA – 2nd Overall ACRÓPOLIS – 4th Overall NEW ZEALAND – 1st Overall 1000 LAKES (Finland) – 2nd Overall SAN REMO (Italy) – 4th Overall AUSTRALIA – 2nd Overall RAC (UK) – Retired WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP’S RUNNER UP
1999	Continues to fulfill its contract with TOYOTA TEAM EUROPE. MONTE CARLO – Retired SWEDEN – 2ndOverall SAFARI (Kenya) – 3rd Overall PORTUGAL – 2nd Overall ESPAÑA – CATALUNYA – Retired TOUR DE CORSE (France) – 3rd Overall ARGENTINA – 5th Overall GREECE – 2nd Overall NEW ZEALAND – 6th Overall FINLAND – 3rd Overall CHINA – 3rd Overall SAN REMO (Italy) – Retired AUSTRALIA – 2nd Overall RAC- ENGLAND – Retired 5th IN WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

1980	Dispute his first rally, the Shalymar (Madrid) with R-5TS Gr.1
1981	WINNER First National Championship Seat Panda Rallye. 2nd Renault Iniciación Cup (R5-TS) in circuits with official driver Red Renault de Madrid y Provincia. Compete in four rallys of Spain Championship with Seat Panda Gr.2, official driver Seat.
1982	WINNER Renault 5 Cup
1983	WINNER National Cup Renault (R5-TURBO) in circuits. CHAMPION Zona Centro de Pilotos de Rallyes (Renault R5- Turbo 200 C.V. Gr.4). WINNER First Challenge Centro de Rallyes. Official driver Red Renault de Madrid y Provincia, both circuits and rallyes.
1984	CHAMPION Zona Centro de Pilotos de Rallyes (Renault R5-Turbo 200 C.V. Gr.B). Official driver Red Renault de Madrid y Provincia.
1985	2nd Spain Rally Championship (Renault R5 Tour de Corse Gr.B.). Official driver Renault España.
1986	2nd Spain Rally Championship (Renault R5 Maxi Turbo Gr.B.). Official driver Renault España.
1987	SPAIN RALLY CHAMPION (Ford Sierra Cosworth Gr.A). Compete for the first time in rounds of World Rally Championship: PORTUGAL – Retired CORSICA – 7th Overall RAC (UK) – 8th Overall Official driver Ford Spain
1988	SPAIN RALLY CHAMPION (Ford Sierra Cosworth Gr.A.). Results in the World Rally Championship: PORTUGAL – Retired CORSICA – 5th Overall 1000 LAKES (Finland) – 6th Overall SAN REMO (Italy) – 5th Overall RAC (UK) – 7th Overall Official driver Ford Spain 10th IN WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP
1989	Joins with TOYOTA TEAM EUROPE to compete in the World Rally Championship with CELICA FOUR Gr.A. Results in the World Rally Championship: MONTE CARLO – Retired PORTUGAL – Retired CORSICA – Retired ACRÓPOLIS (Greece) – Retired 1000 LAKES (Finland) – 3rd Overall SAN REMO (Italy) – 3rh Overall RAC (UK) – 2nd Overall 8th IN WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP