Carlos Sainz

Carlos Sainz Cenamor , called El Matador , born with Madrid the April 12th 1962, is a pilot of Spanish rally . Winner of 26 rallys into world, it is also double champion of the world and four times vice-champion (1991, 1994, 1995, 1998) and hold the record of podiums (97) in the discipline.

He makes his beginnings in rally in 1980 and takes part for the first time on a world level in the rally of Portugal (March 14th 1987) on a Ford. He will take part in 3 tests this season, and will finish in the points for the first time at the Tour of Corsica to finish 35e modestly classification of the season. The following year, in the same stable, it will mark some points and will finish 11th championship.

Passed to in Toyota in 1989 it will gain its first podiums, including one 2nd place at the end of the season to the Rallye of Great Britain, it finishes 8th general classification. 1990 is the year of the dedication, it will finish 2nd Car rally Monte Carlo in opening of the season, other podiums and 4 victories will follow this year, it is world champion. He will gain 5 victories the following year, but he will have to be satisfied with the 2nd place of the championship, in front of inclining himself in the last test of the championship, the Rallye of Great Britain, vis-a-vis Juha Kankkunen. He will take his revenge the following year, beating at the time of the last test of the championship, (once again the rally of Great Britain) this same Kankkunen! He added 4 victories and a second title to his prize list, but he leaves Toyota for Lancia.

Except for one 2nd place with the Rally Acropolis, the season will prove quite dull, and it will sign at Subaru for 1994. It will hang only one victory with the Acropolis Rally, but will be mathematically in string for the title until the last test, where it will have to give up on accident. In 1995 it will gain 3 times, but once again, will lose accuracy with the Rallye of Great Britain against Colin McRae.

From return to Ford in 1996, Carlos will gain the Rally of Indonesia and will finish 3rd championship, but once again he fails in his search of a new title, just like the following year, 3rd with 2 victories.

Perhaps in 1998, of return to Toyota, will occur the largest disappointment of its career, at the head of the championship with 3 victories at the time of the last test, whereas it was enough for him to cross the finishing line of the rally of the United Kingdom to gain one 3rd title, it was betrayed by the mechanics of its Corolla WRC, in the last kilometer of the special last. It finishes vice-champion behind Tommi Mäkinen. 1999 will be one year without victories, in spite of many podiums, it will finish in the 5th place of the general.

Following the withdrawal of Toyota, it makes a new return to Ford, and knows another good season, with one 3rd place with the general and a new victory. In 2001 after 6 tests, it holds the 2nd place of the championship, but it will not mark any more that some points thereafter and will finish only 6th championship, without victories. 3rd of the championship in 2002, it will be comptablement well far from the champion Marcus Grönholm and its only victory will be on green carpet to crown the whole, at the end of the season, its copilot Luis Moya will take its retirement.

That does not prevent it continuing its career, and from signing at Citroen in 2003, with Colin McRae and Sebastien Loeb like fellow-member. Loeb will gain the most results, but thanks to its regularity and a victory with the Rally of Turkey, Carlos will be mathematically in string for the title at the time of the last test. Nevertheless, an accident under tests will force it with premature fixed price, a few days after having announced its fine withdrawal 2004. For this last season, it will go up regularly on the podium and thus to contribute again to the championship of the manufacturers of Citroen, the pilot title of Sebastien Loeb and will gain an ultimate victory with the Rally of Argentina.

The October 31st 2004, after 193 participations in the Championship of the world of the rallys, finishes 3rd rally of Spain (Catalunya - Costa Brava), and puts an end to its career, but in June 2005 it agrees to take again the wheel of the Xsara WRC to replace François Duval, for the Rallye of Turkey (4th place), and Rallye of Greece (3rd place).

In 2006 it took part in its first Rallye Dakar, with Volkswagen, and gained 4 stages.

Titles

Victories in Championship of the world of the rallys (26)

External bond

Official site

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