circuits: A1 GP

A1 GP: World Cup of Motorsport 2008/09

MEXICO CITY

 

Overview:

The circuit (Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez), named in honour of the Rodriguez brothers, Pedro and Ricardo, shared two key characteristics with Monza. Firstly it is located in a park. Secondly it contains a fearsomely fast final corner leading onto the long pit straight. However unlike Monza Parabolica Mexico's Peralta turn has always been slightly banked. Not only did this serve to make it quicker, it also made the corner more likely to catch the drivers out.

Mexico city is frequently beset by earthquakes and they have no doubt contributed to the circuit's notoriously bumpy surface. The other unusual factor to consider is the altitude. At around 7,500 feet it is plagued with thin air that caused problems for both men and machines.


Specifications:

  • Location: Eastern Suburbs of Mexico City
  • Track Length: 3.99km
  • Laps: 69
  • Direction: Clockwise
  • Total Distance: 305.049 km
  • First Winner: Jim Clark 1963
  • Last Winner: Nigel Mansell 1992
  • Lap Record: Nigel Mansell 1991, Williams FW14, 1'16.788
  • Address: Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez,Av. Patriotismo 586,
    03800 San Pedro de los Pinos, Mexico City


History:

Key to the introduction of Mexico to the calender was the exploits of the Rodriguez brothers. The younger of the two, Ricardo lost his life here in a non-title event during 1962 at the tragically early age of 20. The circuit was immediately named in his honour. Pedro took the grid in the first World Championship race a year later and went on to be one of the stars of Grand Prix and sports car racing until his own death in 1971.

During the early years of the circuit's involvement if Grand Prix racing the honours were certainly spread around with Jim Clark the only driver to win here twice during the period. His victories in 1963 and 1967 were separated by wins for Gurney, Ginther and Surtees. Following the death of Clark in 1968 Graham Hill won for Lotus, while Hulme and Ickx took the honours for Brabham and Ferrari respectively. The 1970 race was plagued with terrible crowd problems and it was a miracle that no one was hurt. As a result the circuit was dropped from the calender and remained off limits until 1986.

For it's second incarnation as a championship circuit several changes were made. Not only was the track cut in half, it was also up rated with a new pit complex. Thus the Peralta returned to challenge the turbo cars of the mid-1980s. Gerhard Berger earned a maiden win for himself and his Benetton team in 1986, while Mansell, Prost and Senna all won in the following seasons. Prost was victorious in 1990 although the race is best remembered for Mansell's move on Berger at the dreaded Peralta. Nigel's brave efforts earned Ferrari a rare 1-2. In 1992 Mansell was again second, this time behind his team mate Patrese.

The last Mexican Grand Prix was held in 1992 the year when Mansell and his active Williams proved unstoppable. The car rode the bumps to perfection allowing Mansell to lead all the way. As a result of mainly financial problems the circuit was once again allowed to slip from the calender at the end of that year.

It was not until 2002 that international racing returned to Mexico after CART team boss Gerry Forsythe went into partnership with the Mexican entertainment company CIE to rebuild the track and promote a CART race. The event was a big success. 

 

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