Update begins at Mexico City
Work has now started in ernest at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City in order to prepare the track for November's CART race, which will end the series outside the USA for the first time in history.
Now that the new definitive date for the Mexican Grand Prix has been set – November 17th, 2002- work has started in the paddock area and in the Moisés Solana Complex, the ‘S’ turn located at the end of the main straight.
Organisers CIE -Corporación Interamericana de Entretenimiento - are promising a 21st century facility when work is completed.
"The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is the best facility of its kind in Latin America since it was inaugurated, and what we’ll do is take to the 21st century motor sports standard," said Rubén Saldívar, general director of GRAND –the joint enterprise by CIE and Forsythe Racing which organizes the Grand Prix.
"We will make it as important as the international series that it has hosted and will host, and it will be the pride of all Mexicans, who once again will be able to enjoy their favorite sport in its modern and traditional facilities."
Demolition of unused sites plus the uprooting of the curbing is just a small part of all the work that has been done since last September when the Grand Prix was initially announced.
Less visible work undertaken includes a wide range of studies, inlcuding ecological impact, engineering, civilian protection and mass transit. Several structures are also being tested in order to create grandstands which will minimize impact on the surface of the Magdalena Mixiuhca Sport City where the track is located.
Off-site, walls, catch fencing and tire barriers have been steadily built in private facilities ready to be sent to the Autódromo.
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