Carlos Sainz faces the Dakar 2024 one hundred percent focused on achieving his fourth victory in the world’s toughest test. He wants to complete an even more special milestone, becoming the first driver to win with an electric motor with Audi Sport. He does not think about his future, although at the age of 61, he knows that his retirement time may come. The Spaniard, as he has mentioned in previous years before each Dakar, has made sure that he will decide whether or not to continue his Dakar adventure after competing in the race in Saudi Arabia next January. His decision can be attributed to Audi Sport, which does not yet know if it will continue in the Dakar after completing the 3 years planned for this project in the next edition.
“Nobody knows about Audi. And I think it’s wise that whatever they decide, they will do it after the Dakar. I don’t know about my future. All the energy is in the Dakar. When the rally is over there will be time to analyze how the race went, how I felt physically, how competitive I was, and answer the questions everyone should be asking themselves at this point.
“When the rally is over, I will ask myself all those things and find out if in the end the balance falls on the side of wanting to try again because I have all the necessary motivation, etc. I will look in the mirror and will answer myself . But on the other hand, I “I won the right to respect any decision, if I decide to continue with another project, if there is another project, or if I decide to stop. At that moment I will ask for understanding in advance,” argued Carlos.
“I continue with that motivation to compete, probably because I enjoy doing what I do, because it continues to compensate me. But every year the cost is greater,” added the Madrid driver.
“From a certain age, motivation and the body to be in the same or better shape than last year requires more and more effort and work. And if you do it, it means that you have the motivation to do it. And now you can measure how physical you are. I always do stress tests every September and before going to Dakar, and I always do them and the same method, and this way the driver’s ‘set-up’ can be measured. And there things that can’t be measured, like reflexes… every year my eyesight gets worse but with glasses… I don’t know. It’s clear that the day will come when I’ll say it’s not worth it, that I don’t feel good enough, that no more I’m having fun,” he said.
“The day I ask myself ‘what am I doing here’ and the answer is different from what happened today, then I will stay at home and talk without any kind of frustration. See for yourself in the mirror at home and ask yourself all the things I wonder… This is an exercise where you have to be honest. Sometimes seniority and experience make up for some things, but the Dakar is a very race, working hard for 4 or 5 hours a day, going between 120 and 160 heartbeats. constantly”, concluded Carlos who will make the decision to continue or end his long and successful career after the Dakar 2024.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
