WRC Icon Carlos Sainz to Pilot Ford Puma Rally1 at Rally de Asturias Historic

Double world rally champion Carlos Sainz will compete in a Ford Puma Rally1 World Rally Championship car at the Rally de Asturias Historic in Spain this weekend.

The 1990 and 1992 world rally champion has confirmed he will drive the latest generation WRC car at the event, which this year honors Sainz’s illustrious career.

The 64-year-old Sainz will reunite with long-time co-driver Luis Moya for the 10-stage asphalt rally, featuring 126.66 competitive kilometers.

“There’s not long to go until the historic Asturias rally in Pravia. They’ve decided to dedicate the event to my career, which I’m tremendously grateful for. I mentioned a little while ago that there might be a surprise in store,” said Sainz on social media.

“That surprise has now been confirmed, and I want to say a huge thank you to both Ford and Red Bull for bringing a Ford Puma Rally1 to the event.

“I’ll get to drive a latest-generation rally car. It’s been so many years since I last drove on asphalt, and now I’ll also have the opportunity to drive this fantastic car, whose homologation, incidentally, expires at the end of this year.

“Luis and I are really excited to see the car and try it out. We hope to see you all there in Asturias.”

#225 Ford M-Sport Ford: Carlos Sainz Sr

Photo by: A.S.O.

Sainz accumulated 196 WRC starts during his career, recording 26 wins and 97 podium finishes, driving Toyota, Subaru, Lancia, Ford and Citroen machinery.

Since retiring from WRC competition at the end of 2005, Sainz has remained active in rally-raid, winning the prestigious Dakar Rally four times (2010, 2018, 2020, 2024).

Sainz joined Ford’s factory World Rally-Raid Championship program for 2025 and currently sits ninth in the championship standings this season.

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