Between 150,000 and 200,000 people lined the streets in the city centre of Sergio Pérez’ home town of Guadalajara and cheered the first Mexican Formula One driver in over 30 years. The 21-year old Sauber F1 Team driver went up and down the 1.5 kilometre long course on closed public roads a total of eight times in a C29, doing ‘donuts’ and getting the tyres to smoke.
“This was one of the best days of my life”, said Sergio Pérez, trying to put his emotions into words after giving dozens of interviews and signing countless autographs, “it was a great, great experience. I have never experienced something like this before with so many people cheering me. I’m proud to be Mexican, and I’m proud to receive all this support. It is a big boost for me ahead of the new season.”
”It was an enormous event with unbelievable enthusiasm“, confirmed Team Manager Beat Zehnder. He added: “What the state of Jalisco managed to put on within a very short space of time was one of the greatest F1 road shows I have ever looked after.”
In glorious sunshine with a pleasant 28 degrees the programme was rounded off by a NASCAR show, which also involved Sergio‘s brother Antonio Pérez, bike shows and parades involving the police and vintage cars.