Mark Twain once said that age is a case of mind over matter; if you don't mind it, it doesn't matter!
At 61, rally legend Carlos Sainz embodied those words upon winning on Friday in Saudi Arabia his fourth Dakar rally raid, becoming the oldest winner of the gruelling race, while also delivering to Audi its first Dakar title with the help of expert navigator Lucas Cruz.
The two-time world rally champion known as 'El Matador' had led the adventurous event since Stage 6, but with fellow rally legend Sebastien Loeb inching closer this week and breathing down his neck, Sainz’s relief came when the Frenchman was stranded in the desert for over an hour in Thursday’s penultimate stage.
Loeb’s setback allowed Sainz to enjoy a leisurely final day and drive to the finish line on Friday.
Belgium’s Guillaume de Mevius took advantage of the mechanical troubles that befell Sainz’s teammate Mattias Ekstrom to finish runner-up while Loeb were forced to settle for the final spot on the podium.
¡Bien hecho, señor!
