Carlos Sainz Sr made history at the 2024 Dakar Rally, achieving the distinction of being the oldest driver ever to secure victory at the prestigious event at the age of 61.
This marked Sainz Sr’s fourth triumph in the Dakar, a remarkable feat that occurred 14 years after his initial victory. His success added another chapter to an already illustrious career as a double world rally champion.
The Sainz family’s motorsport legacy continued with Carlos Sainz Jr, who became a Formula 1 Grand Prix winner for Ferrari, showcasing the passing on of motorsport genes within the family. While many drivers follow their fathers into motorsport, some have made a name for themselves in different racing disciplines than their parents or siblings.
A prime example is Nigel Albon and his son, Alex Albon, who ventured into touring cars and single-seaters, respectively.
Nigel’s career began in the Renault Clio Cup and the British Touring Car Championship, while Alex initially faced challenges in single-seaters before finding success in Formula 2 and eventually returning to Formula 1 with Williams in 2022.
Similarly, Mick Doohan, a legendary motorcycle racer with five consecutive 500cc titles, saw his son Jack Doohan transition to four-wheeled racing after starting in karting. Jack progressed through various levels, finishing third in the 2023 Formula 2 standings and becoming Alpine’s reserve driver.
John Button, known for supporting his son Jenson in Formula 1, had a successful career in rallycross before his son’s entry into motorsport. Jenson’s journey included winning the British Formula Ford Championship and later claiming the 2018 Super GT Championship.
The Lauda family, led by Niki Lauda, saw Mathias Lauda excel in touring cars and sportscars, while Lukas Lauda explored rally raid racing. Stig Blomqvist, a rally world champion, witnessed his son Tom Blomqvist pursue single-seater racing, showcasing a parallel to the Sainz family’s story.
Henrik Lundgaard’s rally career paved the way for his son Christian Lundgaard, who found success in road racing. Christian’s achievements include winning the 2017 Spanish F4 Championship and later competing in IndyCar.
Franz Wurz, a rallycross champion, saw his son Alexander Wurz enter single-seaters, eventually becoming McLaren’s test driver and later engaging in Le Mans Prototypes.
The list extends to siblings, with Lewis Hamilton dominating Formula 1 and his half-brother Nicolas Hamilton making history as the first disabled BTCC driver. Max Chilton’s F1 journey contrasted with his brother Tom Chilton’s closed cockpit racing career in BTCC and the World Touring Car Cup.
Stirling Moss’s sister, Pat Moss, achieved success as a rally driver, securing victories in the European Ladies’ Rally Championship and becoming the first woman to win an international rally in 1960.
These stories highlight the diverse paths taken by racing families and the unique achievements of each individual within the motorsport realm.