At the age of 17, Xavier Pons made his first steps in motorsport by taking part in the 125cc enduro motorcycle championship of his country, Spain.

His incredible riding skills helped him to clinch the Spanish title in 1998. Determined to compete against the best drivers, the young Spaniard moved up to the European Enduro Championship and finished second in the standings. That same year, Pons also competed in the World Enduro Championship, clinching third position in the standings and the teams' title.

Between 2000 and 2002, Pons won more enduro titles, both at the national and international levels. However, in 2002 Xavier moved from two to four-wheel competitions. His attention turned to rallies and success didn't take long to materialise. The Spaniard won the Suria and Vilaudrau rallies and finished many times in the top 5 of the Spanish Rally Championship.

In 2003, Pons became the Group N gravel Spanish Rally Champion and finished second in the Group N national asphalt championship. Encouraged by his success, Xavier moved up to the World Rally Championship. His first race took place in Sweden, where he finished 52nd overall and 27th in the Group N category. He was also at the start of the Rally of Finland and the Tour de Corse but the Spaniard retired in both events. However, his WRC season ended on a high note when he took the victory in the Group N class at home in the Catalunya Rally.

The following year, his programme included races in both the Junior and Production World Championships. In the Junior class, he finished the season in ninth position with a podium result at the Acropolis Rally. In the Production category, Xavier took two victories and finished fourth in the championship.

His 2005 season started at the Monte Carlo Rally, his first attempt at the wheel of a World Rally Car. That year, Pons drove in both the Production Championship and the World Championship. He won the New Zealand event in the Production class and finished fifth in that championship.

His first rallies at the wheel of the 206 WRC - Monte Carlo and Sardinia - ended in retirements but Xavier achieved his first result at the wheel of a World Rally car by finishing tenth at the Acropolis Rally, this time driving a Xsara WRC. After that, he scored many top 12 results (Argentina, Finland, Deutschland, Great Britain) before getting a great seventh place at the Tour de Corse and a superb fourth position in his home event, the Catalunya Rally.