2015 Mexican Grand Prix : DANIEL RICCIARDO BECOMES FIRST FORMULA ONE DRIVER TO SAMPLE NEW GRAND PRIX VENUE IN MEXICO CITY
By InfinitiMEXIO CITY – Infiniti Red Bull Racing driver Daniel Ricciardo has made history by becoming the first of the current Formula One grid to drive the newly redesigned Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit in Mexico City.
After a tour of the pit and paddock facilities that are still under construction, Ricciardo completed the first ever lap of the newly configured track behind the wheel of an Infiniti Q50 Hybrid. Scuderia Toro Rosso driver Carlos Sainz then joined Ricciardo in the World Championship-winning RB7 Formula One car, with the pair driving a number of parts of the track in both cars, including the all-new and highly unique stadium section.
Once complete, the 17-turn, 2.7-mile (4.3km) circuit will return to the F1™ calendar in November with the first Mexican Grand Prix for 23 years.
'It was really cool to come and see how the circuit is coming along and to drive around it in the Q50 Hybrid,' said Ricciardo. 'It clearly has a good mix of fast and slow corners, which I think will be a real challenge in an F1 car, so I'm looking forward to racing here later in the season. I heard that the tickets are already sold out, so it will be a pretty special atmosphere here that's for sure.'
Commenting on the event, Tommaso Volpe, Global Director of Infiniti Formula One added: 'Mexico is one of our fastest-growing global markets, so to become the first car brand to lap the new circuit ahead of the grand prix with Daniel behind the wheel is a testament to our commitment to the business in Latin America.'
About Infiniti
Infiniti Motor Company Ltd. is headquartered in Hong Kong with sales operations in over 50 countries. The Infiniti brand was launched in 1989. Its range of premium automobiles is currently built in manufacturing facilities in Japan, the United States and China. Production in the UK will start in 2015, bringing with it significant expansion of the brand's portfolio. Infiniti plans to also expand manufacturing into Mexico by 2017.
As the Title Partner and Vehicle Performance Partner of Infiniti Red Bull Racing, Infiniti has a far-reaching technical collaboration with the four-time FIA Formula One World Championship winning Team.
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