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Mexico plunges into fray for piece of F1 action
Cancun, Nov 16: Mexico has thrown its hat into the ring of countries bidding to add their name to future Formula One schedules.
Cancun, Nov 16: Mexico has thrown its hat into the ring of countries bidding to add their name to future Formula One schedules.
The coastal resort of Cancun, in the south-east of the country, has said that it will be ready to host the grand prix circus by 2005, having recently received local government backing to bid for a race.
Would-be organiser Joe Abed, the man behind the races in Mexico City during the 1980s, has met with F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone to discuss the possibility of Mexico returning to the calendar and, along with the national secretary for tourism, Rodolfo Elizondo, and the regional governor, Joaquin Hendricks, has prepared a presentation for the FIA.
Prospective promoter Michel Jourdain - the father of the Team Rahal CART driver of the same name - has welcomed the initiative, but admits that Abed is only person with ability to bring the test to the country.
The main problem foreseen by Jourdain is the absence of a Mexican driver in Formula One, particularly as his fellow countryman are finding success in the CART series that currently stages two races in Mexico, including one at the former F1 venue at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. The latest round, in Mexico City, featured five Mexican drivers and attracted 400,000 fans to attend over the course of three days.
However, Mexico's timing could be fortuitous, with two of the three other F1 events taking place on the continent - Canada and Brazil - have recently run into problems. Should Ecclestone want to maintain the category's presence on 'the other side of the Atlantic', he may turn to Cancun as a viable replacement for either.
Bureau Report
The coastal resort of Cancun, in the south-east of the country, has said that it will be ready to host the grand prix circus by 2005, having recently received local government backing to bid for a race.
Would-be organiser Joe Abed, the man behind the races in Mexico City during the 1980s, has met with F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone to discuss the possibility of Mexico returning to the calendar and, along with the national secretary for tourism, Rodolfo Elizondo, and the regional governor, Joaquin Hendricks, has prepared a presentation for the FIA.
Prospective promoter Michel Jourdain - the father of the Team Rahal CART driver of the same name - has welcomed the initiative, but admits that Abed is only person with ability to bring the test to the country.
The main problem foreseen by Jourdain is the absence of a Mexican driver in Formula One, particularly as his fellow countryman are finding success in the CART series that currently stages two races in Mexico, including one at the former F1 venue at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. The latest round, in Mexico City, featured five Mexican drivers and attracted 400,000 fans to attend over the course of three days.
However, Mexico's timing could be fortuitous, with two of the three other F1 events taking place on the continent - Canada and Brazil - have recently run into problems. Should Ecclestone want to maintain the category's presence on 'the other side of the Atlantic', he may turn to Cancun as a viable replacement for either.
Bureau Report