Layout: Fictitious (designed by me) – © 2022 AllAlongTheRacetrack
When was the track built?
It has been operating for 50 years, after local motorsport enthusiast Filiberto Jiménez Orozco, better known as “Don Fili“, managed to design it and convince authorities to build it close to the airport.
Featuring a quarter mile drag strip, functioning also as main straight for the road course and the oval, it was inaugurated in 1970 and it is one of the most important in the country although through the years it has hosted mainly national event in particular due to safety concerns, which were at the base of some minor modifications to the layout, with the addition of chicanes.
It is only through the complete restyle of the circuit, designed by me, that the Autódromo will receive the Grade-1 certification to be added to the Circuit Database to host also Formula 1 GPs from 2023, with a 4.5km extension and the restoration of the “El Frijol” oval and of the 3.3km original course.
When was its first Grand Prix?
It will be the first ever race at this venue.
It is one of the six Mexican racetracks that will rotate in the Formula One North American Series, where Mexico has three spots.
What’s the circuit like?
A typical Mexican-style circuit, with an extremely long main straight serving also as drag strip, that has been upgraded keeping most of its original features.
The first sector offers two 700m straights with hard braking turns 1 and 4 that will surely be scenes for lots of wheel-to-wheel action.
The fast sequence of curves up to turn 9 is following the original design and leads to the new extension where the triple-corner 11-12-13 and the tight hairpin at the end of another long straight catch the eyes.
The old banked final corner has been replaced by a safer and more challenging couple, where traction will be important to have the best speed to the finish line.
Where is it located?
To the north of the city of Monterrey in Mexico, with the International Airport, which is located just the other side of the Monterrey-Nuevo Laredo highway from the circuit. (+ 25°51’18”, -100°13’03”)
All Along The Racetrack 