45 replies to this topic

[HistoryFan]

In Formula One there was a Mexican F1 car with the Penske built Rebaque.

But were there any other Mexican Formula racing cars in the past?

[arttidesco]

The Rodriguez brothers amongst others, I think there are four in total here are some links to previous TNF threads on the subject, http://forums.autosp...mp;hl=Rodriguez, http://forums.autosp...mp;hl=Rodriguez, http://forums.autosp...mp;hl=rodriguez :-)

[HistoryFan]

The question was not Mexican F1 drivers, but Mexican single seaters. Formula Racing from Mexico, not only in Formula One, but also in other series...

[arttidesco]

The question was not Mexican F1 drivers, but Mexican single seaters. Formula Racing from Mexico, not only in Formula One, but also in other series...

doh!

[arttidesco]

http://www.banksblog...ks-from-mexico/

A Mexican school project to get the Mexican single seater thread rolling, I am sure Mexico has/has an F3 series.

[HistoryFan]

Yes they had an own F3 series, but with own single seaters`?

[HistoryFan]

I searched on f3history-site and there is no Mexikan F3 car listen up. Some from Brazil and Argentinia, but no Mexican.

[arttidesco]

I searched on f3history-site and there is no Mexikan F3 car listen up. Some from Brazil and Argentinia, but no Mexican.

I drew a blank on that too surprising given that Mexico has a motor industry, but maybe the market is too small.

[rolando]

There were Mexican-built racing cars in the Formula K championship, I wrote this article a few years back,

The mexican Formula K was one of the most important series in Mexico's motorsports history, launched many mexican drivers into the international scene. The first Formula K championship was celebrated in 1984. The Formula K car was a single-seater with a Chrysler 4 cylinder mid-engine with 4-wheel independent suspension, adjustable gearbox with 5 speeds plus reverse and tubular chassis reinforced by aluminium panels. These vehicles were constructed by the OTTOS company that was run by Alberto Hernández Mendoza and Manuel Otero, the engine was a Chrysler of 2.2 liters with double webber carburetors that developed 170 bhp, with an empty weight of 480 kilos.

The most international mexican driver at the time Josele Garza tested it for the first time. The car's first race was held in the Circuito Jalisco, in Guadalajara (my hometown :wink: )

This is Josele in the press-presentation.




Adrián Fernández, Jose Luis Silva, Javier Campos and the Manatou brothers at the OTTOS facilities.


In the "Circuito de Monterrey" the 4th race of 1984 took place.


The Monterrey winner Gilberto Jiménez driving the new car, Gilberto will become Formula K double champion in the 1985 and 1986 seasons.



Cesar Tiberio Jimenez in 1988


Oscar Medina in 1988


The mexican multi-champion Carlos Guerrero


There were also ENCO chassic built by Enrique Contreras, hope it helps.

[arttidesco]

Thanks Ronaldo I got the name of the Formula name wrong but I was certain I'd seen some pics of Mexican single seaters somewhere

[ghinzani]

Reynard built the f3 cars, initially they were all 903s.

[HistoryFan]

@rolando: Thank you very much for the details! Very interesting to read!

[arttidesco]

Thanks Ronaldo I got the name of the Formula name wrong ...........

@ rolando apologies should always where my spectacles when sitting at the computer !

[HistoryFan]

There was also a Mexican F2 series, but I doubt that they built a Mexican F2 car...

[rolando]

There was also a Mexican F2 series, but I doubt that they built a Mexican F2 car...

Actually the Mexican F2 car were built here in Mexico, the Formula 2 series replaced the Formula K after 1989. The chassis was designed by Ralt, but in order to mantain the lowest cost possible those cars were built in Mexico. Then in 1996, the Mexican Formula 2 was replaced by the Mexican F3000 and Lola-T96 cars were used, but unfortunately this category only lasted for two years due the financial crisis.

[drionita]

I may go wrong, but around 1989 I read on an italian magazine about a GLAS formula 1 team with Mexican investments - or something like that. As long as I remember, the magazine was "Auto Oggi", there was a sketch for the color scheme. I have to check my almost-lost archive, if I'll find something I'll post some scans.

----
Matt
Southern Italy

[David McKinney]

Cars in national FJ races included the Barcenas-DKW and the Nacional-DKW, both raced by Ernesto Barcenas in 1962, and Carlos Barra’s SGT of 1963. Whether these were locally-built, or rebadged imports, is another matter

In the 1950s though many Mexican-built single-seaters had competed in the Mecánica Nacional category

[RA Historian]

I may go wrong, but around 1989 I read on an italian magazine about a GLAS formula 1 team with Mexican investments - or something like that. As long as I remember, the magazine was "Auto Oggi", there was a sketch for the color scheme. I have to check my almost-lost archive, if I'll find something I'll post some scans.

----
Matt
Southern Italy

See http://www.f1rejects...lambo/text.html

The 1991 Lamborghini F-1 car started out as a project for GLAS, a team funded by Mexican Fernando Gonzalez-Luna. However, the initial idea for a Mexican F-1 team apparently disappeared at the same time Gonzalez-Luna did. Project then came under the control of Scuderia Modena, which raced a two car team of Lamborghinis in 1991 without any results worth mentioning.
Tom

[arttidesco]

See http://www.f1rejects...lambo/text.html

The 1991 Lamborghini F-1 car started out as a project for GLAS, a team funded by Mexican Fernando Gonzalez-Luna. However, the initial idea for a Mexican F-1 team apparently disappeared at the same time Gonzalez-Luna did. Project then came under the control of Scuderia Modena, which raced a two car team of Lamborghinis in 1991 without any results worth mentioning.
Tom

A 7th place finish pulled the Modena Lambo team out of Pre Qualifying in the second half of the season :-)

[Tim Murray]

... and Eric van de Poele would have been 5th at Imola if his fuel pump hadn't packed up on his last lap.

[Mansell Madgwick]

The GLAS was going to be driven by Giovanni Aloi I seem to recall.

And of course, van de Poele's last lap breakdown at Imola in 91 let Julian Bailey slip into 6th for Lotus!

[ensign14]

And prevented any awkward questions about an Italian engine in an Italian car going well in precisely one country.

[RA Historian]

A 7th place finish pulled the Modena Lambo team out of Pre Qualifying in the second half of the season :-)

Indeed; the highlight of the car's existence! It was at the Phoenix street race in March, 1991, that year's first GP. (I was there.) After that, it was all down hill. Having said that, the effort certainly exceeded that of the LIFE the year before!

Tom

[HistoryFan]

In the 1950s though many Mexican-built single-seaters had competed in the Mecánica Nacional category

Do you mean the Argentinian F1 series?
Can you list up which cars? So perhaps I can find out more about them...

[David McKinney]

No, the topic is Mexican single-seaters
AFAIK cars were simply known as Cadillacs or Chevrolets or Ford V8s or whatever (as in Argentina)

[Mansell Madgwick]

And prevented any awkward questions about an Italian engine in an Italian car going well in precisely one country.

Special brew from Agip? Wasn't it just that the slow, reliable cars (the Dallara-Judd, Lotus-Judds etc) finished, like Larini did in Phoenix? Sorry, thread hijack.

[HistoryFan]

No, the topic is Mexican single-seaters
AFAIK cars were simply known as Cadillacs or Chevrolets or Ford V8s or whatever (as in Argentina)

But there weren't Formula racing cars, were they?

[David McKinney]

Yes, they complied with the Mexican Mecánica Nácional formula

But no, they did not comply with any international formula

[ensign14]

Special brew from Agip? Wasn't it just that the slow, reliable cars (the Dallara-Judd, Lotus-Judds etc) finished, like Larini did in Phoenix? Sorry, thread hijack.

I remember there were some persistent rumours that the engine for that race was half-a-litre over the limit...

[HistoryFan]

Yes, they complied with the Mexican Mecánica Nácional formula

But no, they did not comply with any international formula

Thank you very much!

[rolando]

This is a Mexican 'Mecánica Libre' racing car, the driver is Jorge Rosado the day that won the Ciudad Sahagun race in September of 1961, this car was built on a 12-year-old Alfa chassis with a Ford flathead and Ardun overhead valve head.



There was also the 'Mecánica Nacional' Class A category which consisted of body built in Mexico, engine not later than 1951 and chassis adapted from a stock chassis. The Mecánica Libre was the same except that any engine was allowed.

[HistoryFan]

Very nice picture!
Would like to see more!

[RA Historian]

Very nice picture!
Would like to see more!

You ARE a glutton for punishment

Tom

[Mansell Madgwick]

I remember there were some persistent rumours that the engine for that race was half-a-litre over the limit...

Thanks for the clarification. That would definitely explain it...

[arttidesco]

This is a Mexican 'Mecánica Libre' racing car, the driver is Jorge Rosado the day that won the Ciudad Sahagun race in September of 1961, this car was built on a 12-year-old Alfa chassis with a Ford flathead and Ardun overhead valve head.



There was also the 'Mecánica Nacional' Class A category which consisted of body built in Mexico, engine not later than 1951 and chassis adapted from a stock chassis. The Mecánica Libre was the same except that any engine was allowed.

Fab pic a sort of Mexican Multi Union, if it still exists lets hope some greedy double explitive does not get his mits on it and turn it back into an Alfa Romeo :-)

[HistoryFan]

There were Mexican-built racing cars in the Formula K championship, I wrote this article a few years back,

The mexican Formula K was one of the most important series in Mexico's motorsports history, launched many mexican drivers into the international scene. The first Formula K championship was celebrated in 1984. The Formula K car was a single-seater with a Chrysler 4 cylinder mid-engine with 4-wheel independent suspension, adjustable gearbox with 5 speeds plus reverse and tubular chassis reinforced by aluminium panels. These vehicles were constructed by the OTTOS company that was run by Alberto Hernández Mendoza and Manuel Otero, the engine was a Chrysler of 2.2 liters with double webber carburetors that developed 170 bhp, with an empty weight of 480 kilos

I found the champions of Mexican Formula K:

1989 Formula K G.Martinez MEX Martiga - Chrysler
1988 Formula K O.Manautou MEX Martiga - Chrysler
1987 Formula K G.Martinez MEX Martiga - Chrysler
1986 Formula K G.Jimenez MEX CDD Lider - Chrysler
1985 Formula K G.Jimenez MEX CDD Lider - Chrysler
1984 Formula K E.Contreras MEX Enco - Chrysler

So were that the Martiga cars what you have mentioned? Were thje CDD Lider also from Mexico? Were there different chassis from Mexico?

[cjpani]

I found the champions of Mexican Formula K:

1989 Formula K G.Martinez MEX Martiga - Chrysler
1988 Formula K O.Manautou MEX Martiga - Chrysler
1987 Formula K G.Martinez MEX Martiga - Chrysler
1986 Formula K G.Jimenez MEX CDD Lider - Chrysler
1985 Formula K G.Jimenez MEX CDD Lider - Chrysler
1984 Formula K E.Contreras MEX Enco - Chrysler

So were that the Martiga cars what you have mentioned? Were thje CDD Lider also from Mexico? Were there different chassis from Mexico?

The CDD Líder Chasiss were developed by Filiberto Jiménez (MEX), who got authorization from Adrian Reynard himself to "copy" hos FFord 2000 chasis, wirh some adaptations to suit mexican tracks.

some other good pictures here: http://www.atodamaki...5dcfe2e94e6b1df

regards
cj

[HistoryFan]

Thank you very much!

So there were many different Mexican Formula cars in the Formula K. The post from rolando sounded as there were only one mexican car for all drivers.

Was OTTO behind Martiga?
What other cars were used?

[HistoryFan]

The CDD Líder Chasiss were developed by Filiberto Jiménez (MEX),

Do you mean Gilberto Jimenez, who was champion with that car twice? Or was that his father/brother or something like that?

[HistoryFan]

The Martiga were built by Rodolfo Martinez, brother (???) of Gerardo Martinez, who won championships with that car. In 1997 the Escuderia Martiga took part in the Mexican F3000 series with Gerardo Martinez and David Martinez (his son?), who is well known as IndyCar driver some years ago and was in talks with Sauber F1 in 2005. David was 10th in the championship.

[rolando]

The ENCO FK car was built and raced by Enrique Contreras who previously had built a Formula Ford ENCO, this car participated since the first year of the Formula K championship, but the Ottos was the first model built for Formula K. After that, the CCD lider chassis was built by Filiberto Jimenez –Gilberto’s father- and was the class of the grid and finally the brothers Gerardo -exCCD lider driver-and Rodolfo Martinez Garcia built the Martiga, the last car of the category built. However, some drivers such as Fernando Plata re-built and modify an old ENCO chassis to participate in his first race.

[HistoryFan]

Thank you very much!

[ghinzani]

I recall reading somewhere that drivers as young as 15 could participate in Mexican series, maybe one of the Formula K drivers who subsequently came over to Europe. Didnt one of them win Class B of British F3 one year? Plata maybe? Jimenez was supposed to be the real deal too - cant recall whether I saw him in FVL or F3? There was a quick Mexican in Formula Vauxhall Junior too - Freddy van Beuren maybe? Around the same time as Franchitti.

[rolando]

I recall reading somewhere that drivers as young as 15 could participate in Mexican series, maybe one of the Formula K drivers who subsequently came over to Europe. Didnt one of them win Class B of British F3 one year? Plata maybe? Jimenez was supposed to be the real deal too - cant recall whether I saw him in FVL or F3? There was a quick Mexican in Formula Vauxhall Junior too - Freddy van Beuren maybe? Around the same time as Franchitti.

Gerardo Martinez Jr. better known as "El dominico" started racing in the Martiga team in the Super Formula Series at 15 in 1991 (Formula K chasis but organized by Filiberto Martinez instead of Michel Jourdain Sr who started the Mexican 'Formula 2' at the same time) and took the title of rookie of the year, sadly he lost his life in road car accident when he was a passenger of the a Mustang GT back in 1994.

Fernando Plata was actually the 1989 Formula 3 B Champion and Gilberto Jimenez drove in British F3 but without success. And you have good memory Freddy van Beuren V raced in the Formula Vauxhall in 1993, after that he raced some Indy Lights races and in the Mexican F3000....

[GMiranda]

I found some nice pictures on Facebook

[TennisUK]

I remember there were some persistent rumours that the engine for that race was half-a-litre over the limit...

Only 15 years late but… given that engine was already very thirsty indeed and with another 500cc to quench… and Imola was probably the thirstiest track on the calendar I’m not sure he would only have been two laps short?