As solely reported by Motorsport.com, whether or not to launch a bid to problem incumbent marketing campaign for a second time period throughout this yr’s elections on the governing physique.
A two-time World Rally champion, Sainz could be considered by up to date Components 1 followers because the ex-rally driver father of Williams’ Carlos Sainz. But, the senior Sainz stays energetic on the rally-raid scene by – in 2025, he with Audi that yielded victory within the 2024 occasion.
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After giving up his legislation diploma to concentrate on motorsport full time, Sainz began rallying within the Eighties and have become a pressure on the nationwide Spanish rally scene with wins for SEAT, though he additionally dabbled briefly in single-seaters in that point with funding from tobacco model Marlboro. There, Sainz broke into the quarter-finals of the 1983 Components Ford Pageant at Manufacturers Hatch, which paved the best way to a seat in 1984’s Components Ford 2000 championship within the UK.
Persevering with in nationwide rallying again in Spain, Sainz ended his affiliation with SEAT to take a Ford Sierra RS Cosworth to nationwide championship wins in 1987 and 1988, supported by the American model’s Spanish arm, which additionally allowed him to dovetail these exploits together with his first look within the World Rally Championship in 1987.
Carlos Sainz, Luis Moya, Ford Sierra RS Cosworth
Carlos Sainz, Luis Moya, Ford Sierra RS CosworthMotorsport Photos
Motorsport Photos
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With the Sierra, Sainz clinched seventh within the 1987 Tour de Corse and eighth within the RAC Rally in Wales with then-co-driver Antonio Boto. Luis Moya then took the passenger seat for 1988 to start a protracted affiliation with Sainz, who signed with Ford’s works group for 4 occasions. His fifth-place finishes on the Corsica and Sanremo occasions, plus his dominance within the Spanish Rally Championship, caught the eye of Toyota Workforce Europe chief Ove Andersson, himself a former rally driver, who signed Sainz to drive his group’s Celica GT-4 in 1989.
After an inauspicious begin to that yr, with 4 retirements in his opening 4 outings for Toyota, Sainz claimed podium finishes in Finland and at Sanremo, and was heading in the right direction to clinch his first WRC victory in Wales earlier than mechanical points swung the rally in Pentti Airikkala’s favour. Sainz needed to wait till 1990 to seize his first championship win – which preceded his cost to the title.
Carlos Sainz, Luis Moya, Toyota Celica GT4
Carlos Sainz, Luis Moya, Toyota Celica GT4Motorsport Photos
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Though Toyota continued to lock horns with Lancia on the high of the pile, the Italian model’s drivers didn’t take part in each race; Sainz, nonetheless, did. Even so, as soon as he’d bought his first WRC win at Greece’s Acropolis Rally, there was little any of the Lancia drivers might do to cease him; Didier Auriol and Juha Kankkunen have been 45 and 55 factors respectively in need of Sainz’s whole, even after the Spaniard dropped scores in Kenya and Italy.
Kankkunen received the 1991 title with Sainz runner-up, however the latter claimed a second title with Toyota in 1992 by 10 factors over the Finn.
Carlos Sainz, Luis Moya, Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD
Carlos Sainz, Luis Moya, Toyota Celica Turbo 4WDMotorsport Photos
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The 2 swapped automobiles for 1993, Sainz attending to drive the much-feted Lancia Delta HF Integrale – albeit for the privateer Jolly Membership outfit as Lancia pulled its works help on the finish of ‘92, on account of a presumed sponsor conflict as Toyota picked up Castrol cash, which clashed with Sainz’s current association with Repsol.
Sainz managed only one podium that yr, after which left to affix Subaru for 1994 and 1995. , he was runner-up to Auriol in ‘94 and fought towards team-mate Colin McRae in ‘95 in a championship battle that turned often bad-blooded due to Sainz getting extra beneficial group orders at that yr’s Rally Catalunya. Nonetheless, McRae clinched the 1995 title.
Carlos Sainz, Luis Moya, Subaru Impreza
Carlos Sainz, Luis Moya, Subaru ImprezaMotorsport Photos
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Meaning to rejoin Toyota earlier than the group was banned for 1996 following its involvement in a dishonest scandal round its turbocharger restrictor plate, Sainz spent two years at Ford to drive its Escort (scoring three wins and ending third total in each championships).
He then made the return to Toyota to drive its new Corolla; Sainz completed runner-up to 1998 champion Tommi Makinen that yr, then a relatively distant fifth within the following season.
Carlos Sainz, Luis Moya, Ford Escort RS Cosworth
Carlos Sainz, Luis Moya, Ford Escort RS CosworthMotorsport Photos
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When Toyota withdrew its works group, Sainz was again with McRae at Ford; though aggressive, the Spaniard’s wins started to dry up and he managed simply two over the following three years – earlier than closing out his WRC profession with Citroen.
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He took his last WRC win with the French producer’s Xsara within the Argentina spherical in 2004, and closed an illustrious profession within the top-tier rallying championship with a podium within the 2005 Acropolis Rally in a bit-part marketing campaign.
Carlos Sainz and Marc Marti
Carlos Sainz and Marc MartiCitroen Communication
Citroen Communication
Throughout the 20 years since, Sainz has largely concentrate on rally-raid occasions – and counts 4 Dakar wins throughout its varied iterations, the latest being in 2024 in Audi’s RS Q e-tron with co-driver Lucas Cruz.
His personal group , the place he shared driving duties with Laia Sanz earlier than ceding the seat to Mattias Ekstrom in 2023.
#204 Workforce Audi Sport Audi RS Q e-tron E2: Carlos Sainz Sr, Lucas Cruz
#204 Workforce Audi Sport Audi RS Q e-tron E2: Carlos Sainz Sr, Lucas CruzAudi Communications Motorsport
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In fact, Sainz is a key element of supporting his personal son’s racing profession – Carlos Sainz Jr turned a four-time race winner with Ferrari, earlier than transferring to Williams as Lewis Hamilton changed him at Maranello for 2025.
Now, Sainz is contemplating whether or not to problem Ben Sulayem – a person he has competed towards earlier than of their overlapping stints within the WRC. Given the controversy of the FIA president’s present time period, Sainz could be afforded loads of help by the car golf equipment searching for a change…
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