Ever since the 2018 edition of Dakar Rally ended with his second victory, there were a lot of suspicions about the future of Carlo Sainz. Now we have the answer: the defending champion returns with X-Raid in 2019, turning down the offer of Toyota that was also on the table.
After winning his second title last January with Peugeot, Carlos said in an interview to Mundo Deportivo made in the F1 preseason tests in Barcelona that “if I race I would like to do it with a winning project, not with one in which there is start to put two or three years because I’m not in that situation.” And finally, after testing with Toyota and the two options of Mini, the 4×4 and the buggy, he opted for racing with the X-raid team’s two-wheel drive vehicle, as a nearby source told Mundo Deportivo.
Interestingly, in that interview, Carlos hinted that the Toyota project seemed more competitive before testing the vehicles of both teams. But the tests carried out seem to have made him change his mind in a forceful way, opting for the German formation.
“I have earned the right to decide if I want race or not and with which vehicle,” said Sainz, who asked for his decision to be respected, whatever happens, noting that “I run to have fun.” He also wants to fight for the victory with the Mini buggy that seems to have convinced him to postpone his retirement for at least another year.