2024-01-19 12:12:25
The Spanish driver, who started with a big advantage after stage 11, had no problems in this 175 kilometer special and together with his co-driver, Lucas Cruz, certified his final victory.
Thus Sainz becomes four-time Dakar champion at 61 years old. He has also done it, winning the Dakar with four different car brands and, in this case, he also achieved the first victory for a hybrid vehicle. A true legend of this sport.
Strong victory without any stage victory
Sainz’s victory in this Dakar has been overwhelming, as the Spaniard achieves victory with an advantage of more than 1 hour and 20 minutes over the Belgian Guillaume de Mevius (Toyota), who was second classified ahead of Loeb, who finished in the third step of the podium.
Sainz, who has not achieved any stage victory in this rally, has been the most consistent of the drivers and that has allowed him to add his fourth victory, after those achieved in 2010, 2018 and 2020.
The Madrid driver and his co-pilot Lucas Cruz gave a driving display and were protagonists in the most complicated stages.
They were seconds away from a first day full of stones and punctures. They were also second in the sixth stage, a 48-hour time trial through the largest sand desert on the last day, and third on the penultimate day, another rock marathon in which Sainz slowed down after seeing Loeb’s breakdown, aware that he was already no one could come close to his overall times.
A strategy of ten, the result of his ambition and experience, which has served to expand his record of achievements in which, in addition to the four Dakars, his two world rally championships stand out.
Sainz, the oldest to win the Dakar
Sainz’s victory in this Dakar is also historic for another aspect: his seniority. The Spaniard has become the oldest driver to win this test, at 61 years old.
In this way, he breaks his own record since, at 57 years old, Sainz had the privilege of being the oldest rider to have won a Dakar in 2020. Now, four years later, he breaks his record again and leaves the longevity record in 61 years old. One more fact that shows that his hunger is insatiable.
Sainz enters the podium of the most successful Dakar drivers
Furthermore, with this fourth victory in the Dakar 2024, Carlos Sainz is among the best drivers in the event and those who have won it the most times. With four wins he equals the Finnish Ari Vatanen, who has four Dakar Rally’s under his belt and was third on the podium.
Ahead are Nasser Al-Attiyah and Stéphane Peterhansel.
Thus, the general classification of the most successful pilots is as follows:
Stéphane Peterhansel – 8 wins
Nasser Al-Attiyah – 5 wins
Carlos Sainz and Ari Vatanen – 4 wins
Therefore, the final classification of the Dakar 2024 in cars looks like this:
1- Carlos Sainz — 48H.15’18»
2- William of Mevius —49H.35’43»
3- Sebastien Loeb —49H.40’30»
4- Guerlain Chicherit —49H.51’17»
5- Martin Prokop —50H.32’01»
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