Mexico City

Located 6,000 feet above sea level, Mexico’s Grand Prix circuit has had a chequered history of tragedy and drama. The first Mexican GP in 1962 was marred by the death in practice of local hero Ricardo Rodriguez. Two years later John Surtees clinched a dramatic last lap World Championship victory here. Grand Prix racing abandoned Mexico after the 1970 race, when the already notorious crowd degenerated into chaos. The track’s final corner (Peraltada) was a fearsome 180-degree slightly banked turn, although it was modified after Senna crashed there in 1991. The circuit closed in 1999 amid rumours of property development on the site but it remains the centre of Mexican racing today. Having hosted A1GP and Champ Cars in recent years, Mexico City returned to the Formula 1 calendar in 2015. Mexican race fans are among the most passionate on the planet and the 2003 Champ Car race attracted a raceday crowd of 221,011.