Ford signs El Matador

The Ford Motor Company has just signed a two year deal with Spanish rally ace Carlos Sainz. Sainz who coincidentally leads this weeks Australian Rally after 10 stages, will team up with Colin McRae. This will give the Martini Ford team one of the strongest driver line ups of all teams contesting the 2000 FIA World Rally Championship. Sainz will be co-driven by his longtime partner and fellow Spaniard Luis Moya.

Carlos Sainz began his world rally championship career with Ford back in 1987. He drove for the team in 1996 and 1997 taking victory on three events in the Escort Cosworth WRC. To date he has won 22 world rallies making him the second most successful all time rally driver. Ford have been in negotiations with Carlos since Toyota announced it would be pulling out of the sport. He is pleased with the prospect of competing with the Martini Ford Team and commented "I have enjoyed some very special moments with Ford during my career. I am delighted to be competing with the team again. The prospect of driving the new Ford Focus in the world rally championship is an exciting one and I'm looking forward to the moment when I can test the car".

Martini Ford team director Malcolm Wilson said the signing of Sainz added further weight to Ford's championship programme. The team will be bidding for the first world rally title of the new millennium when the championship kicks off in Monte Carlo in January.

Murph 5/11/99 - [email protected]

Neil Blackbourn is attending Rally Australia and will bring us his superb shots and story as soon as he can - don't miss it.

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