Sainz knows what he is talking about: “I know that we have to reach the goal to claim victory”

Carlos Sainz He is one step away from being crowned winner of the Dakar rally for the fourth time in his successful career. The Madrid driver left everything for judgment after the final stage of 2024, which will be the most decisive, Loeb had suspension problems and was left on the road for over an hour. For his part, ‘el Matador’ didn’t have much trouble and took advantage of the opportunity to take a shot at the title.

“We had a slow puncture near the finish, but after seeing Séb’ we were very slow. There were a lot of rocks, so you spend your time looking at the front of the car and driving carefully. We were lucky, because even if you drive carefully, sometimes you click. There are still 170 kilometers to go and I know, especially in this rally, that we have to reach the finish line to claim victory. That’s what we’re going to try to do. We will give the car a good review because the stage is very difficult. If Sébastien is an hour behind me, I don’t have to rush.”

Every motor enthusiast, even those who don’t follow him closely, is well aware of the misfortunes that befell the Spaniard just meters away from achieving glory. But experience makes a difference and, at 61 years old, he knows exactly what he has to do on this Friday’s stage, which in principle should be just a technique of 175 km.

If he completes the feat. That unless a hecatomb happens, Sainz will make history at Audi. This will be the fourth different brand in which he will win after occupying the top with VVolkswagen in 2010, Peugeot in 2017 and MINI in 2020. Each of them in unconditional help of Lucas Cruz as co-pilot. Now, in addition, it will be the first to get a ‘touareg’ with an engine whose power is based on electric mobility. After so many decades of winning, Sainz continues to be the perfect example of self-improvement.