The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is 90 per cent ready for its return to the F1 calendar in November, according to Autosport.
The track, which last hosted a Grand Prix in 1992, has undergone major redevelopment work ahead of this year’s Grand Prix after falling into a state of slight disrepair due to the lack of races on the circuit.
With F1 race director Charlie Whiting expected to visit the track before the end of the month, the race organisers have been working flat out to ensure the first Mexican Grand Prix in 23 years goes ahead.
Whiting is expected to give the circuit full FIA Grade 1 homologation upon his visit, the rank required by all circuits that hope to host a Formula 1 race.
Talking to Autosport, Federico Gonzalez, Managing Director of race promoter CIE, said:
“We are 90 per cent complete. We have almost finished all the buildings and the track. Charlie Whiting is visiting later this month and we’re confident of homologating the racetrack on those days.”
Gonzalez also added that the first layer of tarmac is completed, with the final two likely to be laid within three weeks.
It has been no mean feat to revive the high-speed Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, with CIE having to build a whole new pit complex and media centre, as well as revising the track layout.
F1 architect Hermann Tilke was tasked with updating the track. Whilst most of the layout is the same as the one last used in 1992, there are some notable changes.
The tight radius esses have been opened up, narrowed and made more flowing than before, whilst the infamous final corner – the Peraltada – has been bypassed altogether.
Instead of entering the banked right hander of old, the drivers will enter a twisty section through the baseball stadium – built after the 1992 Grand Prix – in a similar vein to the old CART route.
As a result of the changes, track officials believe that lap times around the new shorter (but slower) circuit will be in the 75 second bracket and top speeds around 204 MPH, not too dissimilar from the existing records set in the early nineties.
More important from a fan’s perspective, though, is how the changes will affect the racing. That question will be answered soon though, with the Mexican Grand Prix slotting into the calendar as round 17 on the 1st November.
