05/09/2013
NEWS STORY
A draft calendar for 2014 which includes a race in Mexico City is music to the ears of McLaren driver Sergio Perez.
The calendar, issued to the teams this morning ahead of its ratification by the World Motor Sport Council later this month, sees New Jersey dropped whilst Mexico returns to the calendar after a break of twenty-two years.
"I'm very excited," Perez told reporters. "I know it's not confirmed yet, it's just a pre-calendar but I feel there are very big chances now of this happening.
"It will be great for my country, great for the sport," he continued. "Formula One will be amazed how popular this grand prix can become, it will be huge for Formula One as a sport to go there.
"I know how good the racetrack is," he added, revealing that he was there recently watching his brother taking part in a race. "Obviously they need to rebuild it but there is time enough. I really hope for the good of the sport and my country that it happens."
The Mexico City circuit, formerly known as the Magdalena Mixhuca Circuit, is located in a sports park built on a lake bed at an altitude of 7,500 feet. It has hosted 15 Grands Prix between 1963 and 1992.
"They have to change the pits to make them proper for Formula One, improve a few corners maybe and apart from that it's just a matter of time what they can do," said the Mexican youngster. "But I think they don't have to do big things for the racetrack to be ready."
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