Carlos Sainz

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Carlos Sainz
World Rally Championship record
Nationality	Spanish
Active years	1987 - 2005
Teams	Toyota, Lancia, Subaru, Ford, Citroën
World rallies	196
Championships	2 (1990, 1992)
Wins	26
Podium finishes	97
Stage wins	756
Points	1242
First world rally	1987 Rally Portugal
First win	1990 Acropolis Rally
Last win	2004 Rally Argentina
Last world rally	2005 Acropolis Rally
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Carlos Sainz (born April 12, 1962) is a former Spanish rally driver and two-time winner of the World Rally Championship.

Sainz was born in Madrid, Spain. He competed in the sport from 1980 to 2005. He first competed in the World Rally Championship with Ford Motor Company in 1987. He was World Rally Champion in the Toyota Celica GT-Four in 1990 and 1992, to which a limited number of 440 UK Celica GT-Four ST185s carried his name on a plaque in the vehicle, and decals on the outside. Manufacturers victorious in the world series notable for benefiting from Sainz's acumen have included Subaru (1995), Toyota (1999) and Citroen (2003, 2004 and even, by dint of a two-rally outing, 2005). He also won the 1997 Race of Champions.

As well as delivering distinguishing performances for Ford and Toyota at varying points during the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, Sainz also drove for the fledgling Subaru team in 1994 and 1995, winning the manufacturers' series in the latter year alongside World Champion team-mate Colin McRae (whom he was to join on later occasions at both Ford and Citroën).

Other singular achievements include winning the inaugural editions of both the Cyprus (2000) and Turkey rounds of the World Championship. Other highs include inheriting the victory of the 2002 Rally Argentina from third by virtue of the disqualifications of the two Peugeots of Marcus Grönholm and Richard Burns. Lows include enduring a torrid winless season with Lancia's private 'Jolly Club' team in 1993, and retiring from the 1998 Rally Great Britain, the final event of the year, 500 metres from the finish. As a result of losing 4th place both Sainz and team Toyota gifted their respective titles to rivals Tommi Mäkinen and Mitsubishi Ralliart.

On Sunday, July 18, 2004, Sainz won the Rally of Argentina for the second time. In so doing he set a new world record for WRC career wins, having won 26.

Despite formally retiring at the end of the 2004 season, with a possible view to moving into the European Touring Car Championship, he was invited back to the fold on 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 4th and 3rd finishing positions respectively.

2006 saw a first participation for Sainz at the wheel of a Volkswagen in that year's Dakar Rally. 2007 he will do another attempt with Volkswagen. Following the resignation of Fernando Martin, he even ran, eventually in vain, for the vice-president position at football club Real Madrid C.F., for which he once trained.

[edit] Titles

Year	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
1991	World Rally Championship runner-up	Toyota Celica GT-Four ST165
1992	World Rally Champion	Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD ST185
1994	World Rally Championship runner-up	Subaru Impreza 555
1995	World Rally Championship runner-up	Subaru Impreza 555
1996	World Rally Championship 3rd place	Ford Escort Cosworth
1997	Champion of Champions
1998	World Rally Championship runner-up	Toyota Corolla WRC
2000	World Rally Championship 3rd place	Ford Focus WRC
2002	World Rally Championship 3rd place	Ford Focus RS WRC 02
2003	World Rally Championship	Citroën Xsara WRC
2004	World Rally Championship (won Rally Argentina)	Citroën Xsara WRC

[edit] World Rally Championship

Year	Place	Team
1987	not rated	Ford Sierra RS Cosworth
1988	10.	Ford Sierra RS Cosworth
1989	8.	Toyota Celica GT4
1990	1.	Toyota Celica GT4
1991	2.	Toyota Celica GT4
1992	1.	Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD
1993	8.	Lancia Delta Integrale
1994	2.	Subaru Impreza
1995	2.	Subaru Impreza
1996	3.	Ford Escort
1997	3.	Ford Escort WRC
1998	2.	Toyota Corolla WRC
1999	5.	Toyota Corolla WRC
2000	3.	Ford Focus WRC
2001	6.	Ford Focus WRC
2002	3.	Ford Focus WRC
2003	3.	Citroën Xsara WRC
2004	4.	Citroën Xsara WRC

[edit] External links

• (Spanish) Official website of Carlos Sainz
• Sils Car Museum where the Ford Sierra Cosworth with which Carlos Sainz won the Spain Rally Championship on 1987 can be visited
• Turbocelica.nl Celica Carlos Sainz edition dedicated resource