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ENRIQUE NARANJO
Updated
Carlos Sainz and Lucas Cruz They face the most difficult challenge yet: defend his Dakar crown with a new project, that of Ford… but at the same time very emotional. Because it was the brand with which both, Madrid and Catalan, began their respective careers.
“I’m returning to Ford, with which I did my first world rally and I was its first official driver,” recalls Sainz who, logically, had no doubts when choosing those on the oval; “All the circumstances were in place to face a challenge like winning the Dakar with Ford.”
Lucas also has his origins as a co-pilot linked to the American brand, curiously through an initiative promoted by him, now, his pilot. “I also started here, with a project by Carlos and Ford and… the stages have been burning until I could sit with him and win Dakars together”
Sainz will compete in his 18th Dakar and, as he always says when faced with this question, with the same motivation as in that first World Championship rally with Ford: “So many years later, Getting back together means I’m crazy enough and passionate about cars.…and that Ford continues to trust me for a project like this.”
So many years later, reuniting with Ford means that I am crazy enough and passionate about cars
Carlos Sainz
The journey began in May and will now undergo its “cotton test”. “In Morocco it wasn’t bad, with a stage victory. If I had to go back and think about what this first year had been like, I don’t think I would change much. We have done things well, although we have to see the result later. because competing for the first time in the Dakar are big words”. Without a doubt, a good base on which to build the Dakar adventure.
A Dakar that, for Sainz, has many unknowns: “It will be the most open Dakar in recent years, with Mini too, Dacia that won there… Toyota that is strong and we, who have shown.” Although He didn’t get too involved in a ranking, he did suggest that Dacia can set the tone: “They have the Hunter base and that counts, it’s as if this car will be called something else tomorrow. Dacia may be the fastest, at least from what we see in Morocco.”
Carlos Sainz, at the presentation of the DakarEnrique Naranjo
Ford Raptor, the new machine
Of course, his new car – the ford raptor– was also the center of the conversation: “It is an offroad Formula 1,” says Sainz who, although he knows the difficulties of winning a Dakar on the first try, He finds special motivation in it: “I feel that it is a winning project although the first year is always difficult. But statistics are there to break and, furthermore, it motivates me. “Everyone on the team wants to break it,” he says.
I feel that it is a winning project although the first year is always difficult, but the statistics are there to break
Carlos Sainz
Lucas Cruz pointed out a key factor that can make the difference if it works well: “The car is different from the previous ones, with a radical change in suspensions with FOX, with a quite positive result. We have better comfort and work in broken areas. Furthermore, we have this brand behind us, always together with Ford, and that is a guarantee.”
The Catalan co-pilot, who this year will have even greater weight in the final destination, analyzed some key points of the route: “This Dakar in the first week is going to be quite tough. The 48 hour stage will be very long and if there are problems… the night will be short due to so much work… and then it’s time for the marathon stage. That week is going to be key. And in the second we will not have the motorcycle guide so the strategy will be a very key point there. And in the end it will be important to have a line in front to see the relief of the dunes.”
Expect a Dakar 2025 that is more complex, open and equal than ever… but there is one thing that does not change in Sainz: “For motivation I guarantee that it won’t be this year either, the physical effort test went great and, by car, we have also seen that we are going to be able to fight.” Everything seems in place for, for the first time, a grandfather (Sainz was recently) to win the Dakar.
