Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez

The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is a 4.304 km (2.674 mi) motorsport race track in Mexico City, Mexico, named after the racing drivers Ricardo (1942–1962) and Pedro Rodríguez (1940–1971). The circuit got its name shortly after it opened when Ricardo Rodríguez died in practice for the non-Championship 1962 Mexican Grand Prix. Ricardo's brother Pedro was also killed behind the wheel nine years later. Since 2015, the track has once again hosted the Formula One Mexican Grand Prix, an event it previously hosted in two separate periods on a different layout, the last occasion of which was in 1992.

Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez


The Hermanos Rodríguez Grand Prix circuit (2015–2019, 2021–present)

The Hermanos Rodríguez Formula E circuit (2023)
LocationMexico City, Mexico
Time zoneUTC−6 / UTC−5 (DST)
Coordinates19°24′22″N 99°5′33″W
Capacity110,000
FIA Grade1 (GP)[lower-alpha 1]
3E (Formula E)
Broke ground1959
Opened20 November 1959 (1959-11-20)
Former namesAutódromo Magdalena Mixhuca (1959–1979)
Major eventsCurrent:
Formula One
Mexican Grand Prix
(1962–1970, 1986–1992, 2015–2019)
Mexico City Grand Prix
(2021–present)
FIA Formula E Championship
Mexico City ePrix
(2016–2020, 2022–present)
NASCAR Mexico Series
(2004–2019, 2022–present)
Former:
FIA WEC
6 Hours of Mexico (1989–1991, 2016–2017)
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Corona México 200 (2005–2008)
Race of Champions (2019)
Trans-Am Series (1978–1979, 1991)
CART/Champ Car World Series
Gran Premio Tecate
(1980–1981, 2002–2007)
Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series
Mexico City 400k (2005–2008)
A1 Grand Prix (2007–2008)
IMSA GT Championship (1974)
USRRC (1968)
Websiteahr.notiauto.com
Grand Prix Circuit (2015–present)[1]
Length4.304[1] km (2.674 miles)
Turns17[1]
Race lap record1:17.774 (Finland Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes W12, 2021, F1)
Formula E Circuit (2023)
Length2.628 km (1.633 miles)
Turns19
Race lap record1:14.195 (United Kingdom Jake Dennis, Porsche 99X Electric, 2023, Formula E)
Oval Circuit (1962–present)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length1.609 km (1.000 miles)
Turns4
Race lap record0:32.081 (Mexico Antonio Pérez, Toyota Camry NASCAR, 2015, Stock car racing)
Formula E Circuit (2020–2022)
Length2.606 km (1.619 miles)
Turns16
Race lap record1:09.487 (Brazil Lucas di Grassi, Mercedes-EQ Silver Arrow 02, 2022, Formula E)
Original Formula E Circuit (2016–2019)
Length2.093 km (1.300 miles)
Turns17
Race lap record1:01.112 (Germany Pascal Wehrlein, Mahindra M5Electro, 2019, Formula E)
Grand Prix Circuit (1986–2014)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length4.421 km (2.747 miles)
Turns14
Race lap record1:16.788 (United Kingdom Nigel Mansell, Williams FW14, 1991, F1)
Champ Car/A1GP Grand Prix Circuit (2006–2007)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length4.463 km (2.774 miles)
Turns17
Race lap record1:24.713 (Netherlands Robert Doornbos, Panoz DP01, 2007, Champ Car)
NASCAR Circuit (2005–2014)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length4.053 km (2.518 miles)
Turns16
Race lap record1:20.521 (United States Alex Gurney, Riley Mk XX, 2008, DP)
CART/Champ Car Grand Prix Circuit (2002–2005)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length4.484 km (2.786 miles)
Turns17
Race lap record1:27.248 (Japan Shinji Nakano, Lola B02/00, 2002, CART)
Original Grand Prix Circuit (1959–1985)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length5.000 km (3.107 miles)
Turns14
Race lap record1:43.050 (Belgium Jacky Ickx, Brabham BT26A, 1969, F1)
Original Short Circuit (1959–1985)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length3.991 km (2.480 miles)
Turns10
Race lap record1:17.631 (United States Norm Hunter, Ralt RT4, 1982, Formula Atlantic)

The circuit is located within the public park of the Magdalena Mixhuca Sports City in southeast Mexico City. The circuit is owned by the Government of the City, but is currently operated under concession by Corporación Interamericana de Entretenimiento (CIE) through OCESA, one of CIE's subsidiaries. CIE also organizes the NASCAR and Desafío Corona races in this circuit and rents the circuits to other parties, including race organizers, automobile clubs and track amateurs for fees that are controversial due to their disproportionately high amounts compared to other ex-F1 courses.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series started racing at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in the 2005 season and ended in the 2008 season. Martin Truex Jr. won the race in 2005, and Denny Hamlin won in 2006. For the 2007 race, the chicane was removed to increase passing opportunities down the front straight and into turn 1, and Juan Pablo Montoya from Bogotá, Colombia, won the race. Kyle Busch was the winner of the race in 2008.

The A1 Grand Prix series started racing at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in the 2006–07 season using the full-track configuration used by Formula One. Alex Yoong from Malaysia won the sprint race and Oliver Jarvis from the United Kingdom won the feature race. In the 2007–08 season, Jonny Reid from New Zealand won the sprint race and Adam Carroll of Team Ireland won the feature race.

History

Aerial view of the circuit, November 1962.

Built in the Magdalena Mixhuca public park in 1959, the circuit hosted its first Formula One Grand Prix in 1962, as a non-Championship race. The following year the Mexican Grand Prix became a full World Championship event. The circuit remained part of the F1 calendar through 1970, when spectator overcrowding caused unsafe conditions. When F1 returned in 1986, the circuit boasted a new pit complex, as well as improved safety all around, but left again after 1992 due to safety concerns.

In 2001 CIE and Forsythe Racing tasked D3 Motorsport Development with revamping the circuit. A redesign to include the Foro and a complete upgrade of the circuit was done. It saw a record crowd of 402,413 people attend a round of the CART Championship in 2002.

It was announced in May 2012, that the circuit would again host the Mexican Grand Prix from 2013, in a five-year deal that would see it replace the European Grand Prix in Valencia,[2] but this did not happen. The FIA listed the Mexican Grand Prix as the 19th round of the provisional schedule for the 2014 season,[3] but it was not on the final schedule. The Mexican Grand Prix was listed on the 2015 Formula One calendar published by the FIA on 3 December 2014, with Formula One making its return to the circuit with the race on 1 November 2015.[4]

The racetrack is also home to Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC Mexico), a music festival attended by over 200,000 people.[5]

The Grand Prix circuit

Satellite view of the circuit, as it appeared in 2018
Grand-Am Rolex Series taking a bypass from turn 4 to turn 8

Designed as his thesis by student Óscar Fernández in 1953,[6] the circuit has an elevation of 2,238 m (7,342 ft); the thin air causes difficulties for both the drivers and their cars. It also reduces the levels of aerodynamic drag that cars experience, meaning that higher downforce setups can be used with less impact on straight-line speed.[7]

The circuit has an extremely fast final corner (the Peraltada, turn 17) before a long start/finish straight, and thus reminded some of Monza; however, unlike Monza's Parabolica curve, the Peraltada curve is slightly banked, allowing even more speed through the corner. It was at this corner that the younger Rodríguez crashed, due to suspension failure. After the last F1 Mexican Grand Prix in 1992, a baseball stadium called the "Foro" was built on the inner part of this curve. When the Champ Car series began using the track in 2002, the Peraltada curve was partially bypassed by a series of sharp turns entering and exiting the Foro; re-entering the Peraltada halfway through.

After the Peraltada comes the long 1.2 km front straight. During the original turbo era in Formula One the faster cars were regularly clocking speeds of up to 330 km/h (205 mph) on the straight.

In the 2005 NASCAR Busch Series season, there was a chicane on the main straightaway to slow the cars down. They also introduced a curve between the short course and the Ese del Lago to bypass the latter, but avoiding the stadium detour.

The Grand Prix circuit underwent a significant renovation under the direction of Hermann Tilke for the return of Formula One in 2015. The front straight was slightly extended and reprofiled to accommodate a new media center and paddock. The iconic esses between turns 7 and 13 were significantly modified; the prolific, high radius turns largely diminished and some replaced with fixed angle turns. The baseball field portion of the track was also altered to a low-speed left-right combination that bypassed the first half of the Peraltada, allowing the cars to re-enter the Peraltada halfway through the corner. At 4.304 kilometres (2.674 mi), the course is 170 metres (560 ft) shorter than the previous Grand Prix layout, and Mexican Grand Prix organizers predicted lap times of around 75 seconds and speeds in excess of 328 km/h (204 mph) for the current turbocharged Formula One cars, which eliminate the adverse effects of altitude present in naturally aspirated cars.[1] However, the modern V6 hybrid turbo F1 cars actually managed to reach top speeds in excess of 370 km/h (230 mph) down the main straight.

Layout history

Oval track

The circuit also features an oval layout due to the inclusion of a flat turn that goes from the middle of the main straight to the beginning of the backstretch of circuit. Unlike the road course, the oval is raced in counter-clockwise direction (except for the Formula E race).

The oval configuration of this Mexico City facility is arguably the most dangerous racetrack in Mexico, because of the limited visibility at the exit of turns 2 and 4. This is because the Foro Sol baseball stadium is located inside turns 1 and 2; and several trees are located inside turns 3 and 4.

During the 2006 season, two accidents occurred in the oval track during NASCAR Mexico T4 Series events, which took several drivers out of the race, with some needing hospital treatment.

The oval configuration is used at least twice a year, with two double-feature events featuring the NASCAR Toyota Series and the NASCAR Mexico T4 Series.

The oval configuration also forms the base of the FIA Formula E Championship circuit for the Mexico City ePrix; the oval is raced clockwise, but there is a chicane prior to the entrance of turn 4, with a second chicane on the backstretch, followed by a modified Foro Sol section that exits for the full Peraltada, and a third chicane midway through the Peraltada (turns 1 and 2 of the oval). FIA Formula E track design was modified by Agustin Delicado Zomeño. Starting from season 3 (2016–2017), the first chicane is removed and now it is a right-hand corner.

In season 6, the track is extended and the two chicanes at the back straight and the Peraltada are removed. The track also uses more of the Formula 1 layout. After turn 2 (Formula E track), the track will turn left instead of right and the extended part includes a 4-turn sequence before going back to the original circuit and the stadium section.

Renamed turns

Before the 1986 Formula One race, the first turn (now turns 1-3) was named in honour of Moisés Solana, Mexico's third F1 driver. It is still called Ese Moisés Solana, often referred to as the "Solana Complex" in English.

In September 2002, Mexico's fourth and, then most recent, F1 driver Héctor Rebaque's achievements both in F1 and CART were recognized by renaming turn 6 of the Autodromo as Recorte Rebaque instead of the previous name of Recorte de Gran Premio.

In 2015, turn 17 was named in honour of Nigel Mansell, twice winner of the Mexican Grand Prix in 1987 and 1992 and the scene of his daring pass around the outside of Gerhard Berger in 1990.[8]

On September 20, 2016 Adrián Fernández's achievements have been recognized by the naming of turn 12 of the Autodromo in his honour.[9]

Events

Current
Former

Lap records

The official lap record for the current circuit layout is 1:17.774, set by Valtteri Bottas driving for Mercedes in the 2021 Mexico City Grand Prix, while the unofficial all-time track record is 1:14.758, set by Max Verstappen driving for Red Bull Racing in the qualifying of the 2019 Mexican Grand Prix.[10] As of April 2023, the fastest official race lap records at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez are listed as:

CategoryTimeDriverVehicleEvent
Grand Prix Circuit with Foro Sol: 4.304 km (2015–present)[11][12]
Formula One1:17.774Valtteri BottasMercedes-AMG W12 E Performance2021 Mexico City Grand Prix
LMP11:25.730[13]Brendon HartleyPorsche 919 Hybrid2017 6 Hours of Mexico
Formula V81:32.144[14]Matevos IsaakyanDallara T122017 Mexico City Formula V8 round
LMP21:33.670[13]Bruno SennaOreca 072017 6 Hours of Mexico
LM GTE1:40.212[13]Sam BirdFerrari 488 GTE2017 6 Hours of Mexico
Porsche Carrera Cup1:43.593[15]Thomas PreiningPorsche 911 (991 II) GT3 Cup2018 2nd Mexico City Porsche Supercup round
Formula 41:46.087[16]Moisés de la VaraMygale M14-F42017 2nd Mexico City NACAM F4 round
Formula E Circuit: 2.628 km (2023)[12]
Formula E1:14.195[17]Jake DennisPorsche 99X Electric2023 Mexico City ePrix
Formula E Circuit: 2.606 km (2020–2022)[12]
Formula E1:09.487Lucas di GrassiMercedes-EQ Silver Arrow 022022 Mexico City ePrix
Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy1:25.045[18]Cacá BuenoJaguar I-Pace eTrophy (racecar)2020 Mexico City Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy round
Vintage Circuit: 2.844 km (2020–present)[19][20]
Formula 41:18.538[21]Julio RejónMygale M14-F42022 1st Mexico City NACAM F4 round
National Circuit with Foro Sol: 3.909 km (2015–present)[11][12]
Formula 41:33.010[22]Axel MatusMygale M14-F42016 1st Mexico City NACAM F4 round
Grand Prix Circuit without Foro Sol: 4.256 km (2015–present)[11][12]
Formula 41:40.562[23]Pedro Juan MorenoMygale M14-F42023 1st Mexico City NACAM F4 round
Oval Circuit with Foro Sol: 1.665 km (2015–present)[11][12]
Stock car racing0:44.395[24]Xavi Razo[lower-alpha 2]
José Luis Ramírez[lower-alpha 2]
Toyota Camry NASCAR[lower-alpha 2]
Ford Fusion NASCAR[lower-alpha 2]
2017 Gran Premio FedEx
Oval Circuit: 1.609 km (1959–present)[11][12]
Stock car racing0:32.081[25]Antonio PérezToyota Camry NASCAR2015 Alcatel OneTouch 240
Fórmula Panam0:41.510[26]Luis Alfonso PerezTatuus FA0102015 Mexico City Fórmula Panam round
Original Formula E Circuit: 2.093 km (2016–2019)[12]
Formula E1:01.112Pascal WehrleinMahindra M5Electro2019 Mexico City ePrix
Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy1:15.516[27]Bryan SellersJaguar I-Pace eTrophy (racecar)2019 Mexico City Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy round
Modified Grand Prix Circuit: 4.421 km (1986–2014)[12]
Formula One1:16.788Nigel MansellWilliams FW141991 Mexican Grand Prix
Group C1:21.611[28]Michael SchumacherMercedes-Benz C2911991 430 km of Mexico City
Formula Three1:21.753[29]Javier PelayoReynard 9331999 2nd Monterrey Mexican F3 round
Group C21:31.929[30]Chris HodgettsSpice SE87C1989 480 km of Mexico
National Circuit: 4.000 km (1986–2014)[12]
Indy Lights1:15.386[31]Oswaldo Negri Jr.Lola T96/202000 2nd Mexico City Fórmula de las Américas round
Formula 30001:16.005[31]Mario DomínguezLola T96/701997 2nd Mexico City Mexican F3000 round
Formula Three1:16.751[32]Waldemar CoronasReynard 9331997 1st Mexico City Mexican F3 round
Panam GP1:18.287[33]Gerardo NietoTatuus FA0102012 Mexico City Panam GP round
NASCAR Circuit: 4.053 km (2005–2014)[12]
Daytona Prototype1:20.521[34]Alex GurneyRiley Mk XX2008 Mexico City 250
Stock car racing1:27.458Scott PruettDodge Charger NASCAR2007 Telcel-Motorola Mexico 200
A1GP Grand Prix Circuit (NASCAR Circuit with chicane): 4.084 km (2008)[35]
A1GP1:21.417[35]Oliver JarvisLola A1GP2007–08 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Mexico
Champ Car/A1GP Grand Prix Circuit (Modified Grand Prix Circuit with chicane): 4.463 km (2006–2007)[12]
Champ Car1:24.713Robert DoornbosPanoz DP012007 Gran Premio Tecate
A1GP1:27.534[36]Salvador DuránLola A1GP2006–07 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Mexico
CART/Champ Car Grand Prix Circuit (Modified Grand Prix Circuit with Foro Sol): 4.484 km (2002–2005)[12]
CART1:27.248Shinji NakanoLola B02/002002 Gran Premio Telmex-Gigante
Champ Car1:28.479Justin WilsonLola B02/002005 Gran Premio Telmex/Tecate
Daytona Prototype1:45.331[37]Max AngelelliRiley Mk XI2005 Mexico City 250
Formula Renault 2.01:48.798[38]Hugo OliverasTatuus FR20002004 Mexico City Formula Renault 2000 America round
Grand Touring1:54.099[37]Bill AuberlenBMW M3 (E46) GTR2005 Mexico City 250
Original Grand Prix Circuit: 5.000 km (1959–1985)[12]
Formula One1:43.050Jacky IckxBrabham BT26A1969 Mexican Grand Prix
Group 41:48.910[39]Peter RevsonLola T701968 Mexico City USRRC round
Original Short Circuit: 3.991 km (1959–1985)[12]
Formula Atlantic1:17.631[40]Norm HunterRalt RT41982 Mexico City Formula Atlantic round

The baseball stadium

The Autódromo includes a baseball stadium inside turn 14 (Peraltada). The stadium, called Foro Sol, was home to the Diablos Rojos del México and also hosts music concerts. Some of the artists who played there include Iron Maiden, Paul McCartney, Britney Spears, Metallica, Pink Floyd, Santana, Lady Gaga, The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Taylor Swift, Stone Temple Pilots, Nine Inch Nails, Shakira, U2, Radiohead, and Guns N' Roses. The Diablos Rojos later left Foro Sol in order to build a new baseball stadium named Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú, which was later completed on 23 March, 2019. Unlike Foro Sol, it was built inside of the race track near turns 1 and 3.[41][42]

Notes

  1. Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez's Grade 1 license expired 15 December 2022. It will feature on the 2023 Formula One World Championship calendar, so the license will have to be renewed.
  2. Both drivers took the same lap time in this race independently.

References

  1. "FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO DE MÉXICO 2015". Archived from the original on 15 October 2015. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  2. "México tendrá gran premio ya para 2013". MARCA.com. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
  3. "2014 Calendar draft has 21 races including Mexico". f1fanatic.co.uk. 5 September 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  4. "World Motor Sport Council 2014 - Doha". FIA. 3 December 2014. Archived from the original on 19 March 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  5. "TRAVEL - EDC Mexico 2018". electricdaisycarnival.com. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  6. "Mexican circuit designed by a student will be examination for Mercedes". The Guardian. 26 October 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  7. Holding, Joe (7 April 2021). "High-downforce tracks vs power tracks in F1 – differences explained". Autosport. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  8. "Mexico names final corner after Nigel Mansell". formula1.com. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  9. "Adrian Fernandez has corner named after him in Mexico City". motorsport.com. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  10. "Mexico City - Motorsport Magazine". Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  11. "Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez - Circuito". Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  12. "Mexico City - Racing Circuits". Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  13. "2017 6 Hours of Mexico Final Classification By Class" (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 3 September 2017. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  14. "2017 World Series Formula V8 3.5 Mexico City Race 2 Statistics". Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  15. "2018 Porsche Supercup Mexico (Race 2)". Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  16. "F4 NACAM Championship 6 Hours of Mexico Race 2 (26' +1 lap) Final Classification" (PDF). Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  17. "2023 Mexico City ePrix Race Statistics". Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  18. "Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY Series Round 3 - Mexico City ePrix Race (25' +1 Lap) Final Classification". Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  19. "Circuito Vintage en el AHR para La Batalla Final 2020". Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  20. "Formula 4 NACAM Circuito Vintage". Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  21. "Carrera 2 F4 NACAM Car @ Autodromo Hnos Rodriguez (V) (Mexico) • 21 May 2022". Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  22. "05- F4 Nacam Carrera 2 Car @ Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez (Mexico) • 24 June 2016". Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  23. "Results for Formula 4 NACAM - Carrera 3 F4 NACAM on RaceHero". RaceHero. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  24. "Carrera Karting @ Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez (Mexico) • 09 November 2017". Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  25. "Carrera NMxFS3 Car @ Autódromo H. Rodríguez (ovalo) (Mexico) • 08 November 2015". Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  26. "Carrera Car @ Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez (Mexico) • 12 December 2015". Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  27. "Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY Series Round 2 - Mexico City ePrix Race (25' +1 Lap) Final Classification". Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  28. "Sportscar World Championship Mexico 1991". Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  29. "1999 Mexican F3/Formula Reynard Mexico City - 23 May Race Result". Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  30. "World Sports Prototype Championship Mexico 1989". Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  31. "Mexican Top Formula Fact Book" (PDF). Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  32. "MONTANA GRAND PRIX, INT'L. F-3. ROUND 1 OF 10, MEXICO CITY, MAY 11, 1997". Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  33. "CARRERA 02 Car @ AUTODROMO HERMANOS RODRIGUEZ (Mexico) • 01 June 2012". Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  34. "250 mile Mexico 2008". Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  35. "ROUND 8: MEXICO A1GP WORLD CUP OF MOTORSPORT Feature Race Classification By Fastest Lap" (PDF). Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  36. "ROUND 9: MEXICO A1GP WORLD CUP OF MOTORSPORT Sprint Race Classification By Fastest Lap" (PDF). Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  37. "250 mile Mexico 2005". Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  38. "Carrera Formula Renault 2000 de America Car @ Autodromo Hnos. Rodriguez (Mexico) • 05 November 2004". Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  39. "USRRC Mexico City 1968". Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  40. "Ricardo Rodriguez Autodrome, Copa Mexico Formula Atlantic, April 25 Avril 1982". Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  41. Gran ambiente en inauguración del Estadio AHH.
  42. “AMLO inaugurará nuevo estadio de los Diablos Rojos del México en 2019”.
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