Spanish rally legend Carlos Sainz stood atop the Dakar 2024 podium, adding another landmark to a storied career. At 61, he became the oldest champion in the history of this unforgiving rally raid, a feat that underscored his durability, discipline, and relentless focus. The victory arrived with a sense of grace and an unmistakable stamp of experience, as Sainz clinched his fourth Dakar title and, remarkably, did so driving for a fourth different manufacturer.
Across the dunes, desert dust, and grueling marathon stages, Sainz demonstrated the kind of consistency that only comes from decades of competing at the highest level. The win marked the first time a driver has claimed Dakar glory with four different marques: Volkswagen, Peugeot, MINI, and Audi. It was a historic moment rooted not just in a single triumph but in a sustained adaptability and a willingness to embrace new technology, including the era of hybrid power trains that Dakar has embraced in recent years.
“It was a victory in a very competitive series, with a very special car, for the fourth brand. This means a lot to me, just like making history with this kind of car. Finally, I’m very happy for Audi”, Sainz later explained, reflecting on a year spent building confidence and momentum behind the scenes. The gratitude extended to the team for their trust, the engineers who tuned a demanding vehicle, and the entire Audi crew that backed his bid for success through the long, testing stages of the event.
The Madrid-born driver did not shy away from acknowledging the personal challenges he faced en route to the finish line. He had endured a difficult start to the season, compounded by an injury that briefly sidelined him and left him to contend with two broken vertebrae. Overcoming those health hurdles to claim victory added a deeper layer to the triumph, turning it into a story of resilience and comeback that resonated beyond the sport’s usual circles.
Sainz emphasized that the winning strategy hinged on maintaining forward momentum each day. The essence of Dakar, he noted, lies in running further than others while preserving a robust plan that minimizes risk. In his telling, every day carried significance: one misstep could erase a team’s hopes, and the margins between success and failure are razor-thin in this marathon of endurance. He spoke with pride about sharing the moment with family at the finish, a reminder that personal support and home life are intrinsically linked to the ability to perform at the highest level in rallying.
Alongside the cheers from spectators who lined the final stretch, the scene at the finish captured the human side of the sport. The driver’s wife, who was visible to him that morning, did not convey the sheer scale of the awaiting reception until the moment of triumph, adding a touch of spontaneity to an event that rewards preparation as much as fortune. Sainz described the joy of seeing his loved ones, and he highlighted the role of those at home who quietly bear the costs of long campaigns. Their daily efforts, he suggested, often translate into moments of public celebration when hard work meets opportunity.
When asked about future Dakar campaigns, Sainz chose to frame the moment in terms of the present: there is rope to celebrate today’s victory, and that is where his focus remains. He doubled down on a broader message for fans and aspiring drivers: dream big, work hard, and believe in the possibility of turning those dreams into reality. The sentiment resonated with a wide audience, reflecting the enduring appeal of Dakar as a proving ground for talent, engineering, and perseverance. The discussion left no firm timetable for another Dakar run, but it reinforced a central narrative in Sainz’s career: a multi-brand champion who adapts, perseveres, and continually raises the bar for what is possible in rallying on the world stage.