Dani Sordo Facts for Kids

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal family name is Sordo and the second or maternal family name is Castillo.

Quick facts for kids
Dani Sordo
Personal information
Sordo in 2014
Nationality	Spanish
Born	(1983-05-02) 2 May 1983 (age 42) Puente San Miguel, Cantabria
World Rally Championship record
Active years	2003–present
Co-driver	Juan Antonio Castillo Carlos del Barrio Marc Martí Oriol Julià Diego Vallejo Borja Rozada Cándido Carrera
Teams	Kronos Citroën, Citroën, Mini, Ford, Hyundai
Rallies	192
Championships	0
Rally wins	3
Podiums	58
Stage wins	229
Total points	1413
First rally	2003 Rally Catalunya
First win	2013 Rallye Deutschland
Last win	2020 Rally Italia Sardegna
Last rally	2024 Acropolis Rally

Daniel "Dani" Sordo Castillo (born 2 May 1983) is a Spanish rally driver. He competes in the World Rally Championship (WRC) for Hyundai Motorsport. Dani is known for his skill on different types of rally roads. He achieved his first WRC victory at the 2013 Rallye Deutschland.

Dani Sordo's Rally Journey
WRC Victories
Images for kids
See also

Dani Sordo's Rally Journey

Dani Sordo started his racing career in motocross when he was 12 years old. He also found success in other types of racing, like hillclimbing (racing up hills), karting (go-kart racing), and touring car races.

Early WRC Races

Dani first competed in a World Rally Championship (WRC) event in 2003. This was the Rally Catalunya in Spain. He drove a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII and finished 18th overall. That same year, he won the Spanish Junior Championship. He won this title again in 2004. During this time, he also gained more international experience by racing in WRC events in Argentina, Germany, France, and Spain.

In his last event of 2004, he switched to a Citroën C2 S1600. For 2005, he decided to race a full season in the Junior World Rally Championship (JWRC). He joined the Kronos Racing team from Belgium. He also got a new co-driver, Marc Martí, who had previously worked with the famous two-time World Champion Carlos Sainz. Dani won races in Sardinia, Finland, Germany, and Spain, which helped him win the junior world title!

Dani Sordo driving a Citroën Xsara WRC at the 2006 Rally Japan.

Joining the Citroën Team

Dani's great performances earned him a spot with the Kronos Total Citroën team in 2006. He drove a Xsara World Rally Car. At first, the plan was for him to race in some WRC events while also defending his junior title.

However, his early results were so good that the team changed their plans. He got on the podium (finished in the top three) at the Rally Catalunya and the Rallye de France. This led to him becoming the second main driver for the team from the Rallye Deutschland onwards, racing alongside the legendary Sébastien Loeb. Dani finished the 2006 season with four podium finishes and placed fifth overall in the drivers' championship.

Sordo driving a Citroën C4 WRC at the 2010 Rally Finland.

Sordo driving a Hyundai i20 WRC at the 2015 Rally de Portugal.

Sordo driving a Hyundai i20 WRC at the 2016 Rally de Portugal.

Sordo in his Hyundai i20 WRC for the 2018 Rallye Deutschland.

For the 2007 season, Citroën Sport announced that Dani would be their second driver for their main team. Sébastien Loeb was the lead driver, and they used the new C4 rally car. Dani started the season strong with a second-place finish at the 2007 Monte Carlo Rally. He went on to finish on the podium six more times that year. He even led a WRC event for the first time in his career at the 2007 Rally Catalunya in Spain. He finished fourth overall in the drivers' championship.

In the 2008 season, Dani had a strong year. He finished third in Argentina and second in Jordan. He also won a Finnish Rally Championship event, which helped him prepare for the 2008 Rally Finland. Back in the WRC, Dani took fourth place in Finland. He then had three second-place finishes in a row behind his teammate Loeb in Germany, New Zealand, and Spain. These results helped Citroën win their fourth manufacturers' championship. Dani finished a career-best third in the drivers' standings that year.

In 2010, Dani continued to achieve good results, including podium finishes in Portugal, Bulgaria, Germany, and France. He also finished third in his home rally, Rally Catalunya.

Moving to MINI and Ford

For the 2011 season, Dani Sordo joined the MINI team in their first year in the WRC. He earned two podiums, finishing third in Germany and second in France. He continued with MINI in 2012, starting the year with a second-place finish at the Monte Carlo Rally.

Later in 2012, Dani also drove for the Ford team in one event, the Rally Argentina. Besides the WRC, Dani also competed in the IRC (Intercontinental Rally Challenge) in 2012. He won the Tour de Corse event, which was his first win in that championship. After two seasons with the MINI team, Dani rejoined Citroën for 2013.

First WRC Victory

At the 2013 Rallye Deutschland, Dani Sordo was in third place for most of the rally. But then, the two drivers ahead of him, Jari-Matti Latvala and Thierry Neuville, both had problems. This put Dani in the lead! He managed to hold on to first place in a very exciting finish. After 106 WRC starts, Dani Sordo finally won his first WRC event!

Joining Hyundai Motorsport

Since the 2014 season, Dani Sordo has been a key driver for the new Hyundai Motorsport team. He usually drives the second or third car in selected events.

In 2019, he achieved his second career victory at Rally Italia Sardegna. Dani was in second place for most of the rally behind Ott Tänak. However, Tänak had a problem with his car on the final stage, which gave Dani the victory.

A year later, in 2020, Dani won the 2020 Rally Italia Sardegna again! This was his second win in a row at that event. He is one of only a few drivers to win the Italian Rally multiple times. In the next race, the Rally Monza, he finished third, helping Hyundai win the constructors' championship.

In October 2021, Dani renewed his contract with Hyundai for the 2022 season. He also announced that 2022 would be his last full season. At the 2021 Rally Catalunya, he won four stages in a row and finished third in the rally. This was his 50th podium finish in the WRC!

Dani Sordo continues to compete in selected WRC events for Hyundai Motorsport, showing his experience and speed.

WRC Victories

Dani Sordo has won three World Rally Championship events:

#	Event	Season	Co-driver	Car
1	31. ADAC Rallye Deutschland	2013	Carlos del Barrio	Citroën DS3 WRC
2	16° Rally Italia Sardegna	2019	Carlos del Barrio	Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC
3	17º Rally Italia Sardegna	2020	Carlos del Barrio	Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC