Sainz tops the Dakar podium

HISTORIC: TWO-TIME RALLY CHAMP THE OLDEST WINNER

Veteran Spanish driver Carlos Sainz won the gruelling Dakar Rally for a fourth time yesterday, becoming the oldest winner of the race at 61. The two-time world rally champion known as “El Matador” had been all but guaranteed success when closest rival Sebastien Loeb was stranded in the desert for over an hour in Thursday’s penultimate stage.

On arriving, Sainz climbed out of his Audi car and jumped into the arms of his son, Ferrari Formula One driver Carlos Sainz Jr.

Sainz had led since the sixth stage and, aided by his fellow Audi drivers Sweden’s Mattias Ekstrom and France’s “Mr Dakar”, 14-time champion Stephane Peterhansel, controlled the race from then on.

He finished more than an hour ahead of Belgian debutant Guillaume De Mevius (Toyota) with nine-time world rally champion Loeb (Prodrive) third, slipping a place from his two successive runners-up spots.

Sainz delivered German outfit Audi their first Dakar title.

The Spaniard’s fourth win takes him alongside Ari Vatanen in the rally winners’ roll of honour.

He trails only the five victories of Qatar’s Nasser Al Attiyah – whose defence of his title ended early this year – and Peterhansel’s eight car triumphs. This year was 58-year-old Peterhansel’s final race.

Sainz said his boundless enthusiasm had kept him in the driving seat.

“I think the energy comes from the passion I have,” he said.

“It’s obviously, believing in yourself, believing that you can still drive and a lot of work behind the scenes as well.

“To be here at my age and to stay at the level, you need to work a lot beforehand.

“It doesn’t just come like that. It shows that when you work hard, normally it pays off.”

Sainz – whose previous wins came in 2010, 2018 and two years later – said he was unsure whether he would pursue a fifth title in 2025.

“At the moment, I want to enjoy this victory and I will think about my future in the next weeks,” he said.

American Ricky Brabec took the honours in the motorbike category for a second time.

The 32-year-old Honda rider held an advantage of 10min 53sec over Botswana’s Ross Branch on a Hero, as the 12th stage brought the curtain down.

Frenchman Adrien van Beveren, 33, claimed his first podium finish to fill third spot. –

Picture: AFP SPANISH DELIGHT. Team Audi Sport’s Spanish driver Carlos Sainz and his countryman and co-driver Lucas Cruz celebrate on their car after winning the Dakar Rally yesterday.