Mexican Grand Prix returns to the Formula One calendar after 23 years

The last Mexican Grand Prix in 1992

Return to Mexico

Chief executive Bernie Ecclestone confirmed that the sport will make a return to the Hermanos Rodriguez circuit once again after an absence of more than two decades. Sky Sports have announced that Mexican entertainment company CIE have signed a five-year contract with Ecclestone for the race to be hosted in Mexico City once again. Formula 1 currently has two Mexican drivers on its roster, with Sergio Perez and Esteban Gutierrez flying the flag for the Central American nation.

The Hermanos Rodriguez track last hosted the grand prix from 1963-70 and 1986-92. The track will now be fully updated in time for its introduction once again to the 2015 racing calendar. Organisers are said to be hoping that attendances of up to 180,000 will flock to the track over the three days it will host the race.

Race date to be finalised

F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone confirmed to the Forbes magazine website (www.forbes.com) that the deal had been agreed."We have got Mexico past the post," he was quoted as saying. Forbes said that the plan to revive the race had the backing of a powerful management team, led by two key figures.

One is Tavo Hellmund, the creator of the U.S. Grand Prix and the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, and Soberon, whose CIE company is the world's third largest live entertainment business. Team members include Carlos Slim Domit, who sits on the FIA's decision-making body the Senate, and is the son of the world's richest man Carlos Slim. The return was originally planned for 2014, but the organisers could not update the track in time. Changes to the ultra-fast banked right-hander at the end of the lap, Peraltada, and resurfacing to reduce its notorious bumpiness, will be undertaken to comply with FIA regulations. No date has been fixed for the race.

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