F1: Mexican GP venue nears completion

The venue for the Mexican Grand Prix is "90 percent finished" ahead of Formula 1's return to the country later this season, according to the race promoter.

Organizers have been working since last year on redeveloping the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, which last hosted F1 23 years ago, with the 2.681-mile track set to be ready a month before the race on Nov. 1.

The first layer of the track surface has been put down, ready for a visit from FIA race director Charlie Whiting later this month, with Federico Gonzalez, managing director of race promoter CIE, confident of successfully completing the F1 homologation process.

"We're almost there," Gonzalez told AUTOSPORT. "Progress is being made every day and we're on schedule. We have completed the first layer around the whole track and expect to have the second and third layer in place in approximately three weeks.

"We are 90 percent complete. We have almost finished all the buildings and the track. Charlie Whiting is visiting later this month and we're confident of homologating the racetrack on those days."

The race – which is being held on a holiday weekend that marks Mexico's Day of the Dead – sold out earlier this year. Organiers therefore increased the capacity by a further 10 percent to 110,000, 15,000 of which will be general admission.

"It was sold out so we increased the capacity by 10 percent," he said. "They have sold quickly and we maybe have 10 percent of the additional capacity left so we expect to be a sellout."

Gonzalez said the grand prix will be the first event held on the redeveloped track, with the race weekend program including Masters historic racing and a local event, a deal with which is still be finalized.

F1's regular support program of GP2, GP3 and the Porsche Supercup will not be present in Mexico, but Gonzalez is confident the bill contains sufficient track action.

"I think that will be enough," he said. "The race is in a public park in Mexico, inside the city, and we have three subway stations, nearly so it is very accessible. Together with the things going on in the city, like the F1 fan zone in Chapultepec Park, I think it will be a great atmosphere.

"We're working to a five-year plan. The aim is to make this year a sellout and then build from there. We will then look at other events which compliment the F1 track action."

Originally on Autosport.com