The latest from La Carrera Panamericana
For those of you following La Carrera Panamericana – I know we have some Mexican readers in the UK and some fans who know Jo Ramirez from his time in Formula One – the news is not so good with two days to run.
Yesterday was a dreadful day for the Ramirez/Cruz Volvo which had been holding second place in the ‘Historica A’ class. Jo and Alberto have had problems with the normally reliable car and yesterday they were unable to take part in some of the stages on the route from San Luis Potosi to Aguascalientes. Mechanical troubles dropped the Mexicans down the field to 91st place overall and any hope of repeating last year’s victory has evaporated.
Today Ramirez will be flat out to pick up some places on the spectacular stages from Aguascalientes to Zacatecas. Still running in the top five in their class, the guys have just two days left to haul the blue and white Volvo back into the top fifty. Tomorrow the Carrera finishes at Nuevo Laredo on the coast at the northern edge of the Gulf of Mexico.
Meanwhile the big Studebakers hold on to the top three places with Stig Blomqvist taking over the lead, followed closely by Doug Mockett and former leader Jorge Zardain. It has taken time for the former world rally champion to get into his stride but the great Swede is now poised to win the 2008 Carrera – but anything can happen, and often does, on this the most unpredictable and demanding road race in the world.
Whatever happens over the final two days Mr Ramirez will want to be back in Mexico City, and in front of his TV, for qualifying at Interlagos on Saturday. He will want to see the McLaren team get this one right, as they so often did when he was in charge. A big week, and a big weekend.
Filed under: Blogs, Events, Other reports, Personalities, Rally
Rob was brought up on racing, being taken to Goodwood as a small child and devouring his father’s copies of Motor Sport. During a career in newspaper, radio and TV journalism he created the ‘Track Torque’ motorsport show on radio and was Indycar commentator for Eurosport before co-founding the Festival of Speed and Revival events. He was marketing director of the Goodwood Road Racing Company.
rob widdows:
October 31st, 2008 9:54am
Jo Ramirez and Alberto Cruz may wish to forget the 2008 La Carrera Panamericana. Apart from the parties, the reception from the crowds and the intoxicatin atmosphere of this unque event.
This time last year they were sipping champagne in celebration of their victory.
What a difference a year makes. After seemingly endless troubles with the Volvo, the Mexicans managed to scrape into the top five of their ‘Historica A’ class but struggled over the finish line in 36th place overall, having picked up their pace from down in 91st on the final day.
The happiest man in Nuevo Lareda was Bill Beilharz who claimed overal victory in his Studebaker after runing in the top three for the six days of this gruelling race across Mexico to the Gulf Coast. Studebakers dominated the leaderboard.
Ramirez will now hope he has something to celebrate on Sunday. A big fan of Lewis Hamilton, Jo has predicted that the McLaren driver will take his first world title in Brazil despite the mistakes of last year.
So, another fantastic Carrera, with huge crowds along the route, and some thrilling racing at the front of the field.
I’m just sorry that I could not accept the invitation to be there. Maybe next year! La Carrera is one of the sport’s legendary happenings, the event surviving as the last of the great road races.
RW
rob widdows:
November 10th, 2008 3:43pm
Just heard from Jo Ramirez who has returned from a highly adventurous Carrera Panamericana where he and Alberto Cruz fought their way back to 2nd place in their class after problems with their Volvo.
To get back to second in class was a triumph over adversity, and beaten only by the Alfa Romeo ahead of them.
A full report on the 2008 Carrera will appear here very soon once I have downloaded all the news from Ramirez, plus his comments on a world title for McLaren in Brazil.
RW