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Sainz bids farewell to fans

Carlos Sainz bode an emotional farewell to his adoring fans and finished third in his final rally at home before he retires at the end of this season

The Spaniard fought over second place in the Catalunya Rally with Marcus Gronholm after Sainz's Citroen team-mate and new world champion Sebastien Loeb retired on the second day with a broken sump. And although Sainz had declared a desire to win his final home event before it started, eventually a wrong tyre choice stopped him from catching the Peugeot driver and he was forced to settle for third.

"I don't know how I manage to do it," said Sainz. "I can never just maintain position in the third leg. On Sunday, I am always still fighting hard with someone or other.

"I really tried everything to get passed Marcus [Gronholm]. He was able to put up strong resistance, bravo! Seb was unlucky here. He was really 'very fast', and I think he could have won."

In the end though it didn't matter whether he won or not: "For us, this was a rally full of emotion, the last time through these special stages, in front of my public. The result doesn't really matter, in the end. The crowds flocked to support us. They gave me a wonderful gift, and I would like to thank them..."

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