DECORATION
JONKKA LOGO SITE LOGO
Powered by Google
  
FIA LOGO
decoration
      decoration       decoration       decoration       decoration       decoration       decoration      
decoration
Seasons
  Pre-season roundup
  Season 1973
  Season 1974
  Season 1975
  Season 1976
  Season 1977
  Season 1978
  Season 1979
  Season 1980
  Season 1981
  Season 1982
  Season 1983
  Season 1984
  Season 1985
  Season 1986
  Season 1987
  Season 1988
  Season 1989
  Season 1990
    WRC Calendar
    Teams
    Rule changes
    Championship standings
    Result compilation
    Season statistics
  Season 1991
  Season 1992
  Season 1993
  Season 1994
  Season 1995
  Season 1996
  Season 1997
  Season 1998
  Season 1999
  Season 2000
  Season 2001
  Season 2002
  Season 2003
  Season 2004
  Season 2005
  Season 2006
  Season 2007
  Season 2008
  Season 2009
  Season 2010
  Season 2011
  Season 2012
  Season 2013
  Season 2014
  Season 2015
  Season 2016
  Season 2017
  Season 2018
  Season 2019
  Season 2020
  Season 2021
  Season 2022
  Season 2023
  Season 2024
Sitemap
  Home > Seasons > Season 1990
King Carlos
decoration
That consistency with which Sainz's fans of later date are familiar with marked Carlos' 1990 season and earned him drivers' title in style. Four wins during the season and incredible seven consecutive podium finishes between Corsica and San Remo, quite an achievement from a driver who hadn't won a WRC event before the season started.

First win is almost universally biggest moment to a driver but finest drive of the year from Carlos definitely is his historical 1000 Lakes win. Not only was he first non-scandinavian driver to conquer the classic event which hitherto had been territory for finns and an occasional swede but Carlos managed that with injured left foot which hindered his driving somewhat.

Besides Carlos, also Toyota Team Europe came to an age in 1990. Celica had been fast but fragile previously, now it had found the reliability too and came within an inch of taking manufacturer's crown too. Team's sole failing was their faith and dependence on Carlos, the only other driver to score points for the team was Bjorn Waldegard. With another strong sprint driver like Carlos and Toyota might have ended Lancia's run of makes titles.

Changes
decoration
Biggest changes of the year were in the large number of top drivers changing teams for 1990. Juha Kankkunen had become disenchanted with problems that TTE had with new Celica and moved to Lancia. Former Lancia superstar Markku Alen was signed to spearhead Subaru's WRC assault and another former Lancia driver Mikael Ericsson switched to Toyota. Toyota also lost Kenneth Eriksson who moved to Mitsubishi.

New cars
decoration
1990 saw entrance of two completely new cars and two evolutions of existing designs of which both were also new cars in their own way. First of the evolutions was Mazda's 323 GT-X which first saw action in 1000 Lakes Rally. It had new bodyshell and bigger engine with host of other changes but it wasn't any more successful that it's precessor. The second evolution was Ford Sierra Cosworth 4x4 which also debuted in 1000 Lakes Rally. Intended as an intermediate model between 2WD Sierra and forthcoming Escort Cosworth, this car was 4WD version of older four-door Sierra with improved engine and, incredibly, with seven-speed gearbox.

Two truly new cars were Subaru's Legacy and Volkswagen's Golf Rallye G60. Both went into official action in Acropolis, even though japanese prepared and run Subaru Legacies were entered for Safari Rally before that. Legacy was designed and run by Prodrive and met much better though lean success than Volkswagen's car. Neither had traditional engine, Legacy sporting boxer and VW mechanical G60 supercharger.

Sainz
1990 FIA World Rally Champion, Carlos Sainz
Drivers scoring their
first win
  C. Sainz (Acropolis)
  P. Tauziac (Ivory Coast)
first drivers' point
  F. Delecour (Monte Carlo)
  R. Holzer (Portugal)
  P. Njiru (Safari)
  A. Pattni (Safari)
  S. Anthony (Safari)
  S. Polo (Corsica)
  P. Moschoutis (Acropolis)
  T. Makinen (New Zealand)
  G. Pianezzola (New Zealand)
  G. Martin (Argentina)
  O. Maccari (Argentina)
  F. Marino (Argentina)
  K. Inoue (Australia)
  P. Liatti (San Remo)
  A. Fassina (San Remo)
  P. Deila (San Remo)
  G. Grossi (San Remo)
  J. Bernier (Ivory Coast)
  V. Evina (Ivory Coast)
  J. Dionneau (Ivory Coast)
  R. Droogmans (Great Britain)
first stage win
  A. Schwarz (Portugal)
  E. Weber (New Zealand)
  R. Dunkerton (New Zealand)
  G. Cunico (San Remo)
  P. Deila (San Remo)
  P. Liatti (San Remo)
decoration