Mexican Racing Fans Applaud Formula 1's Launch in Texas

Thousands of Mexican fans flowed into Austin for F1 and the thrill of watching Mexican driver Sergio "Checo" Pérez speed around the track. David Besch was one of them. As he waited in line to get into the Circuit of the Americas stands , Besch said F1 in Austin reminded him of the thrill of his first race at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City.

“I was about eight or nine years old – I think. My uncle took me to the race. From then on, I didn’t stop watching it.”

Many of the fans this weekend said they were ready to see Mexico reopen its F1 track. Recent reports say the country’s leading business owners – among them Carlos Slim Domit, the son of one of the richest men in the world – are talking are talking about getting on the F1 schedule as early as next year.

But it’s been decades since Mexico hosted a Formula 1 race. That would take updating a track that was last used in 1992 to address any safety concerns for drivers. And, reassuring travelers they would be safe from drug cartel violence.

Fan David Rojas, from Mexico City, rushed to reassure them. “In regards to the race – I don’t think there would be any problems – I mean, there’s been tourism all these years, and there’s going to be a major pursue in tourism. So, I don’t expect that to be a huge issue there.”

But until Formula 1 is revived in Mexico, the Circuit of the Americas track here in Central Texas – just 200 miles from the US-Mexico border – will have to do.

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In Austin, F1 Fans Swept Up In “Checomania” For Mexico’s Sergio Perez

During Saturday's qualifying rounds, I could hear the crowd chanting as I walked through the grandstands even with the earplugs in my ears to dampen the sound of the screaming Formula One engines.

It was hard to tell what they were saying at first, until their voices became louder and they competed with the sounds of the cars. "Che-Co! Che-co! Che-co!" Then a minute later, it was clear to everyone what these fans were saying. "CHE-CO! CHE-CO! CHE-CO!"

These people were the thousands of fans who came out to the Circuit of the Americas to turn Mexican driver Sergio "Checo" Perez into the inaugural U.S. Grand Prix's unlikely local hero.

Out here at the circuit, you see scores of people dressed in blue Red Bull garb because Sebastian Vettel has been so dominant in recent years. And there are an even greater number of fans wearing Ferrari red because, well, they're Ferrari — they are to open-wheel racing what the Yankees are to baseball.

But there has also been a huge and somewhat unexpected contingent of fans dressed in white or draped in Mexican flags to cheer on Perez, the 22-year-old Sauber Ferrari driver who is one of F1's most exciting up-and-comers. In case you didn't know, Perez will be racing for McLaren next year, taking Lewis Hamilton's spot as he moves to Mercedes.

Maybe Perez is not such an unlikely hero. Texas used to be Mexico until a war was fought for independence. This state has a huge population of Mexican-Americans, Mexican immigrants and Mexican nationals who call it home. And Austin is only about 235 miles from the Mexican border. Plus, Perez is the only North American currently competing in F1.

For these reasons and more, the circuit has seen a tremendous turnout of people who are rooting for Perez. I've taken to calling it "Checomania," and Austin has it bad.

Continue reading about Sergio "Checo" Perez race in Austin, Texas at Jalopnik.com!

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Sergio "Checo" Pérez Discusses European F1 Grand Prix

Sergio Pérez also known as "Checo" Pérez, is a Mexican Formula 1 driver currently racing for Sauber in the 2012 Formula One season. In this interview with MexicoToday, Checo explains his routine while preparing for the European F1 grand prix. Checo took his first Formula One podium at the 2012 Malaysian Grand Prix and hopes to keep the momentum throughout the rest of the 2012 F1 season.

http://mexicotoday.org/

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F1 Driver Sergio "Checo" Perez Chats with Mexico Today Following Race in Monaco

http://mexicotoday.org/ Formula One driver, Sergio "Checo" Perez, sat down with MexicoToday following his F1 race in Monaco. In this exclusive interview, Checo explains his team is dedicated to working harder and representing Mexico to the best of his abilities. Although Monaco proved to be a difficult race for Perez, the young Mexican driver took control of the track to finish third at Montreal

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Mexico’s Perez feels the need for speed

This year’s Canadian Gran Prix benefitted from a surprise ending as Mexican driver Sergio Perez surged ahead from 15th place to his second podium finish of the year.

The 22-year old Mexican phenom, known for his brash, fiery personality, returned to the podium in style, bringing home a third place finish to the Sauber racing team.

Perez said:

“It was a great race for the whole team because, after such a disappointing qualifying that we had yesterday, with so little pace as well, we had to fight in a different way with the strategy.

“We didn’t have any reference on the long runs…but I think the team has done a great job with the stop and the strategy, myself too, keeping the tyres alive and being so consistent.”

Read more on Mexican phenom driver at Mexicotoday.co.uk

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