Carlos Sainz is undoubtly the best known rally driver (among Colin McRae). Carlosī achievements and skills are known to all who watch motorsport, but everybody are not aware of his backround.

Carlos Sainz Cenamor was born in Madrid April 12 1962. Carlos was interested in sport from the beginning and he was skiing when he was four. Carlos tells that at school sport was very important and he was playing football, handball and tennis. Carlos was very good in tennis, but in squash he was spanish champion at the age of 16 and was representing Spain five times in international tournaments. He was very talented in football, but when Carlos was nine years old something happened to him: he discovered motorsport. Carlos once told that he was watching a Super 8 -viedo. The rally was Swdish rally and Carlos recalls the drivers from the tape: Ari Vatanen was dring Ford Escort and Timo Salonen drove Lancia Stratos. Carlos tells that he was so keen on watching the video that it wore out! Carlos told that he wanted to learn to drive like finns. After a great victory in Finland 1990, Carlos said that maybe some young finish drivers want to learn to drive like Spaniards. When Carlos was watcing rallies he was too shy to ask autographs from his heroes, who were on the other side of the fence. Passion to motorsport led Carlos into a life, wich he could have otherwise just be dreeming. Carlos had decided to beecome a professional driver. Carlos was studiyn law for two years, but after two courses he left and decided to be totally comitted to motorsport. "My parents were horrified. They wanted me to be a lawyer. I just sared studyin law to please them. in reality I never thaught I woul have become a lawyer." Carlos recalls. His parent refused to help Carlos finacially. Afterwards Carlos says that it was a good thing. "It helped me to understand how much things cost. When you pay more of something you respect that and use it more wisely."
His father, Antonios Sainz gave a philosophy: "Learn to fish, not to eat fish". Father is very proud of his son:"I have to be very proud of his success in sport, but I am more proud of his quality as a human". Thatīs no wonder, because you canīt see any arregance in in Carlos.

Carlos has many fanatic fans all over the world

Carlos Sainz is one of the most respected drivers in the WRC. He is very very good and tireless car developer. He is totally deditaced to his job: he can carry on testing from 10 am till nightfall. This has helped Carlos to keep on tope of the sport over the years. His former boss, Malcom Wilson said that he really hopes that Citroën understands what great asset Carlos has got. It is not wonder that Citroën won manufactures in its first year. Why not? Because Carlos was in the team. It is hard to imagine that Colin McRae and Sebastien Loeb would have pulled it out without Sainz.
Spain has always been very important to Carlos. He has said that if he achived nothing else, putting Sain on the map as a serious nation would be enough. Carlos hates that some people say that Spain is just Fiesta nad Siesta. Carlos suprised many people with his hard work. He is from Spain and it was supposed to be just fiesta and siesta! Spaniards became interested in motorsport after Carlos started achieving good results. Oil company Repsol used Carlos may times in comercials nad Carlos became more and more famous. Carlos says that itīs great that during Catalonya Rally there are so many people supporting him. When Carlos won his first title in 1990 he became a nationalhero. A car escort was waiting Carlos and Luis Moya after they arrived from Sanremo, where they secured the title.

Now after a decade a myth has arisen around the Spaniard. Facts and ruomours "are blurred into an indistinct chiaroscuro of fame". Some people claim that "El Matador" is king of Spainīs closest friend. Some think that he could have been Spainīs greatest football player. Some people say that he was unbeatable in squash. After testing Toyata Le Mans car he was as fast as the regular drivers. After this Spaniards begun to talk that Carlos could have been Spainīs first Formula one champion. Carlos has earned millions of dollars in his career and one rumour tells that Carlos owns half of Madrid. One rumour tells that Carlos has major influences to his favourite football team, Real Madrid. Truth is that Carlos plays in Realīs veteran team. Carlos has many many fans all oer the world and he is probobly the most professional driver WRC has ever seen. During the years Carlos has became "El Matador", a living kegend.

The legend of El Matador still lives. He retired from WRC in 2004, but Citroën asked his help in 2005 and he replaced Francois Duval in Turkey and Acropolis. In these two rallies Carlos demonstrated once more why he is a living legend; he finished fourt in Turkey and in last WRC rally of his career he drove one fastest time and finished third, scoring important points for Citroen, as he was asked.
After the rally Carlos said thank you for all of his fans in Rally-X interview. I believe that i speak for all of us Carlos fans when I say: Muchos Grazias Carlos! Thank you for all those years and great memories! The legend of El Matador lives in the hearts of fans.