Dani Sordo

Like many rally drivers Sordo started his competitive career on two wheels. But after success on off-road bikes, he switched to four wheels, competing in karts (his family owns a kart circuit) and then touring cars.

His attentions turned to the special stages in 2001 when he contested a number of Spanish asphalt events before his World Rally Championship debut came on home soil in a Group N Mitsubishi Lancer in 2003.

After winning the Spanish championship’s junior class for a second time in 2004, Sordo stepped up to the international stage in 2005 with support from double world champion and countryman Carlos Sainz, who recommend that Sordo link up with his former navigator Marc Marti. The partnership was a success with Sordo capturing the Junior World Rally Championship title that season in a Citroen C2 Super 1600 run by Kronos Racing. Sordo also used the car to win the overall Spanish title the same year.

A step up in performance to a World Rally Car followed for 2006 when Sordo secured a limited programme in a Citroen Xasra WRC for the factory-supported Kronos Racing team alongside Sebastien Loeb and Xevi Pons. Early season podiums in Corsica and Spain secured a full campaign, however, which he ended in fifth place in the final table.

His performances during the 2006 season - he secured two further podiums - earned him a contract to join Loeb in the main factory Citroen team for 2007 when the French make unleashed its C4 WRC.

Sordo repaid Citroen’s faith in him by scoring seven podiums and taking fourth in the drivers’ contest. Another six podiums in 2008 put him third in the drivers’ competition and helped Citroen take the manufacturers’ title for the first time since 2005.

He was third again in 2009, only this time he had become a more formidable force on gravel as well as asphalt. While wins continued to elude him, he did come close in Catalunya, only to cede position to Loeb while leading following team orders.

The 2010 season was a disappointment compared to Sordo’s previously high standards with his first podium not coming until the sixth event of the year in Portugal, when Citroen Junior Team driver Sebastien Ogier also landed his maiden WRC victory.

Not even a change of co-driver (Diego Vallejo replaced Marc Marti) could reverse his fortunes and despite his loyal service and flurry of podium finishes, it soon became apparent that Sordo’s future lay elsewhere. To make matters worse, Ogier was nominated as Citroen’s second point-scoring driver alongside Loeb on the season-closing gravel events with Sordo demoted to the Citroen Junior Team. His move to MINI for 2011 delivered an impressive brace of podiums from six starts.

2012 got off to a fantastic start with 18 points in Monte Carlo. However, that proved to be over half his entire season’s haul of 35 points. 2013 promises a fresh start in the Citroen - or possibly a re-start. Sordo himself says, “I come back to Citroen older and with more confidence. I have new goals now: I want to fight for victories, fight for the top position and I want to help Citroen win the manufacturers’ championship. If I don’t win next year, then I am going home.” No lack of clarity, there.