Carlos Sainzthe father, yes, the great one, the two-time world rally champion (1990 and 1991, with Toyota)he three-time Dakar champion (2010, 2018 and 2020)one of the three best rally drivers in history, did not even remember yesterday that today marks 25 years (November 24, 1998) of the greatest misfortune (“one of the few, yes, one of the few”) of his sporting career, which was none other than losing, 700 meters from the finish line of the RAC of Englandwhich was held in Wales, his third world title in the specialty.
“Well no, I didn’t remember that tomorrow (today) marks 25 years since that sad surprise, that much-vaunted news,” said Sainz, from the room in one of the luxurious hotels in Abu Dhabi, where he is accompanying his son, who this weekend closes an excellent campaign with the Ferrari team in the F-1 World Championship. “I didn’t remember, Emilio, and I’m excited that you reminded me because, you see, contrary to what many people may be thinking, it makes me smile, because, I repeat, that misfortune was one of the few that I have suffered in the past. throughout my 43 years as a professional.
Sainz, of course, carrying his inseparable one in the ‘seat of fear’ Luis Moyabegan, on a spring day, the final stretch of 1,200 meters, cross-country, in front of an immense castle where the rally organization was located, their path to glory with their playful and powerful Toyota Corolla, heir to the sports car Celica, with which they won their two world titles.
What a way to scream
They were 700 meters away from the third crown and the Corolla stopped, little by little, slowly, as a result of an oil leak. The image is historical, yes, that is why we remember it. Moya got out of the car with a fire extinguisher in his hand, opened the front hood of the car, tried to put out the smoke coming out of the engine while shouting his five legendary phrases, one after the other: “Try to start it!”, “Try to start it!” to start it, Carlos!”, “try to start it, for God’s sake!”, “won’t it start, Carlos?” and “I shit the hell out of him!” Normally, they had just lost their third title.
Juanjo Lacalle, Sainz’s manager throughout his career, recalled yesterday how he experienced those minutes of anguish, at the finish line of the rally, at the foot of the beautiful castle, with Reyes, wife of the Madrid driver. “I had a walkie-talkie in my hand and I kept asking Carlos what had happened. Suddenly, I heard the broken voice of his engineer, almost mute, telling me, ‘the engine has broken, Juanjo, the engine has broken.’ I remember that Reyes couldn’t believe it and he told me: ‘Let me hear it, Juanjo, you don’t know English, it can’t be, he didn’t say that.’ And, yes, he had said it.”
“I will never forget it in my life,” explains Moya. “But, look, we have had so many triumphs, garnered so many accolades, monopolized so many victories that one always keeps the best. And the best thing was being the co-pilot of one of the greatest, well, the greatest of all athletes I have ever known. Carlos started winning at the age of 17, when he became Spanish squash champion! and, now, at 61, he’s still winning. “I don’t care about having made that scream historic, I only care about having been part of a beautiful story in the company of Carlos.”
Safe Barfull, a personal friend of Sainz and Moya, the man who organized the legendary Catalunya-Costa Brava Rally, which counted for the World Cup, was there. “Well, he was there, next to you, Emilio, next to you.” True, we were also at the gates of the castle, of glory. “I went as an FIA observer, although I would have gone the same, as a fan. And it was, yes, very hard. But I remember that that same night, Carlos was already thinking about continuing fighting, because that is the spirit of great athletes, not giving up even when they lose a world title 700 meters from the most absolute glory.”
“To those who talk about my bad luck, I will tell them that I wish all Spanish athletes had the same bad luck that I have had in my career”
Two-time world rally champion and holder of three Dakars
When you ask Sainz what his opinion is of those who make fun of his bad luck, he answers: “They don’t deserve any opinion. The only thing I can tell you, after 43 years as a professional, is to look at my record. Well, that and asking for all Spanish athletes, for all of them, the same bad luck that I have had throughout my brilliant sporting career and, of course, the possibility of defending in life as well as I have defended myself for “bring my family forward.”
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“Bad luck, Carlos?” asks Juanjo Lacalle. “All the bad luck that Carlos has had in his life has been that his father recently died, at the age of 97. That was all his bad luck! As he says, for me I would like Carlos’s bad luck.” “It’s laughable that they talk about bad luck when people comment on Carlos’s career,” says Moya, “someone who has added tremendous and unmatched talent to his immense talent. capacity for work, sacrifice and intelligence. Talent is assumed for millions of athletes, work capacity is not.”
Sainz slowly remembers that misfortune. “It was hard, of course it was hard! How can it not be hard to lose a World Cup 700 meters from the finish line and for something that does not depend on you! It took us a while to recover, but we kept fighting. Until today. That misfortune made us stronger and, then, very, very, beautiful things came. I have always thought that these setbacks make you stronger, toughen you and, above all, they show you that life does not end there, but begins again. Or continue.”
2023-11-23 22:01:33
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