SEPTEMBER 18, 2002

Ramirez is Mexico's Grand Marshal

Jo Ramirez, one of Formula 1's longest-serving members until his retirement last year from McLaren, is to be honoured this year by his native Mexico. Ramirez has been named as the Grand Marshal for the Mexico City CART race on November 17. Ramirez was a wellknown figure in F1 for 40 years after starting out with his schoolfriend Ricardo Rodriguez in the early 1960s. The Mexico City, where Rodriguez died in an F1 car, is now named after him and his brother Pedro.

Mexican racing is booming at the moment, largely due to the success of the Mexican drivers involved in CART.