Sainz: “Why not win the Dakar with a new car?”

With the desserts already served on a table that he shared with her Lucas Cruz and his companion Nani Rome, Carlos Sainz (62 years old, April 12, 1962) I offer himin a chair for the MD and a small group of Spanish press to explain the details of his new Ford project to Marrakesh.

The meeting was not scheduled, and on these occasions, many would have refused to give interviews before the start of the Morocco Rally, but the native of Madrid did not refuse the offer to sit in the press and answer all the questions, although this will remove his necessary rest time after verifications and before finalizing the details of his Ford debut, which will take place the following day in the prologue stage.

The current Dakar champion has decided to continue with a very clear idea: he wants to continue to succeed and go for his 5th Dakar with a fifth different brand.

How much do you want to go back to building a more conventional car after winning the title with the most difficult project of your career, like the Audi project?

The illusion of going back to a more traditional car is not the factor that can change the decision. The decision to continue or not depends first on finding a project important enough to convince and motivate me. And there is no doubt that Ford is: a brand where I have a history behind. This is the fourth time I have joined forces with them (previously in the World Rally Championship). That, together with the fact that Ford entered the Dakar with a new project and officially, with Malcolm Wilson as interlocutor, with whom it was the third time I was present, because in the end the project was made sufficiently motivating to try it. and that I like.

How were the tests in Morocco before the Rally and how many kilometers did the Ford do?

I don’t know the kilometers we did because I don’t pay attention to those topics and numbers. (He looked next to him, at Nani Roma, indicating that the team had done 16,000 km of testing). What I can say is that I think the car was born well, that it was an important step. All new cars cause headaches, but this one doesn’t, or there was a major problem that seriously delayed the entire development. And I think since Nani Roma started the car in England until now, it’s been pretty good and progressing well. It’s born well, it’s not a car you drive into for the first time and say…’phew’. It was quickly seen that there was potential, nothing poorly designed or structurally a limitation.

What key points does the Ford project have?

This is a bold project, especially in two respects. The first is that we’ve distanced ourselves quite a bit from the suspension competition, where others have chosen to go with one brand and we’re the only ones to go with Fox. This is the first time that Fox will be with the official team in Dakar and I think this is a factor that can be important and decisive. Another is the engine. The competition was going with a turbo engine and we decided to go with a naturally aspirated V8 engine. Finally, with the current regulations (the FIA ​​establishes a power curve that cars cannot exceed), theoretically the powers should be the same in one engine or the other, because in theory they are all equal of 100% and There should be no difference, except knowing who consumed more or less, which may give you a difference in weight. But time will tell if those two decisions and those two different factors are for or against.

Who makes those decisions?

The engine decision was up to Ford, who wanted to go with a V8 because it thought it was more interesting. And the issue of suspensions is a decision we all made. Fox has a very strong relationship with Ford in the United States and its production cars go with this brand, which has a strong competition team and important history in the United States and we decided it was worth opening that melon to start working with Fox. These are going to be two things that make us a little different from the rest. Obviously, the car is different, but these are the most decisive things.

Do I need this project change to keep the magic and motivation going?

At this point in my sports career, you have to pull out all the stops to find extra motivation. A new project, with Ford, officially, with Malcolm Wilson, that you know you’re going to love, because it says: ‘Go ahead!’ If the Audi project suddenly ends and nothing happens, then stay home. For me it is a matter of pride that at this point in my sports career they still think of me to help Ford try to win the Dakar.

This year something is different: many new cars: Dacia debuts and Toyota is a longer car, Mini also changes a lot. And a new car has never won the Dakar.

I’m a little different from that, because Toyota is not new. So is the Mini. Yes, its engine is, but most of the parts like the suspension and transmission are the same. The Dacia is actually a new car, but if you look closely, it has many parts that come from the BRX. It looks like Ford will make an evolution of this car next year, because it won’t be a new car. The only one that is truly a 100% new car is ours, the Ford.

Is there a chance to win in the first year of the project?

I will respond better and have more guarantees at the end of the Morocco Rally. But I want to think. But saying you have a chance to win the Dakar is flipping a coin, I’m not brave enough to say yes. That the sensations are good? Yes, but in Dakar you have to be reliable, make no mistakes and you need speed to win. All this is impossible to know now. But sometimes someone has to win the Dakar with a new car… and why not us? We like to think that this year we will be competitive, but I’m sure if you ask the other teams, they all think they can win, even though they all have new parts and relatively new cars. We like to think we can fight for victory.

Last year, no predictions could be made.

It’s true that last year’s Morocco Rally for us at Audi was a disaster and if you ask us after that test morale is low. And then we won the Dakar! What I mean is that if in anything here in Morocco things do not go well and problems arise, it does not mean that the Dakar is considered lost, because the important thing is to see how competitive we are. Surely there will be problems, but the important thing is to see where we are (Nani nods beside him, repeating this idea).

The importance of this Morocco Rally for you is capital. It was his first time to be with Ford.

It was an important milestone, because Nani Roma ran in Hungary and that event was more than a kind of rally. This is really a rally raid and this is what we will be looking for in the Dakar. And it’s my first race in this car, something that’s always special because you always say: ‘let’s see what happens and see if what we’ve done in tests goes well.’ It’s about proving what we’ve done.

What does the collaboration with Nani Roma mean?

A project is made interesting by the brand, the team and the people in it. And obviously racing with Nani in the team, with Mattias Ekström… in the end they are people you can trust, who you can work with comfortably, who you know you can have fun with.

Start a new project as a champion.

That’s enough to motivate you to try again. It is clear that the expiration date (withdrawal) is very close. So, I try to take it day by day. I have done it in the last Dakars and every time you ask me why I will do it next year I always answer the same way, because I know myself, I know positively when I decide to stop in the World Rally Championship, that one day for another, and here it is clear that the date (of withdrawal) is near, but it will be similar. When I feel like I’m not having fun, that I can’t, that it’s not worth it, that I’m not going fast enough to try to win… you put everything on the scale and the moment you decide it’s not going well, So you stop. And nothing happens. And if he continues to choose the side of continuing… well, for now with this whole new project I am happy. I enjoyed it, we did some good tests, with new people, a new team, with their new car, their project, and you see people with enthusiasm and desire. Ford is an important brand and to be associated with them is an honor.

This year has been more stressful for you because of the negotiations about your son’s future in F1. How much do you want to turn the page and focus on competing for the Dakar?

I’m a rally and Rally Raid man and not an F1 man. I cooperate and help my son as much as I can like any father, but yes, it has been a very stressful year in the sense that there was a lot of doubt, the surprise at the beginning of the year… (the Hamilton announcement by Ferrari in Sainz’s place) has been stressful and difficult, especially for my son, who is the protagonist.

Your son wants to do a Dakar with you, father and son. Who will pilot?

Impossible! (Laughs). First, because he wanted to be a pilot and so did I. And since he doesn’t know how to drive and neither do I… (laughs), it’s an impossible task. When he decides to run the Dakar, who knows how I will be.

Do you find it more difficult to drive or watch your child in F1?

Seeing him, there was no doubt. As a pilot, I have no problems! When I’m piloting I have fun. When you have no control over the situation and only look outside, you suffer more.

By the way, this year he debuted as a grandfather. what do you feel

It’s incredible. He is still small, he is 4 months old. I am very happy. We talked to Nani that we should ask for a time bonus for the grandparents (laughs). These are steps in life that are wonderful. Like being a father, now a grandfather… these are joys and situations that until you live you don’t know what they are. Time has flown by for everyone and now it’s a little weird to keep running around like a grandpa, isn’t it? It was nice to be able to dedicate the Dakar victory to my grandson Guillermo.