27/02/2011
NEWS STORY
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Between 150,000 and 200,000 people lined the streets in the city centre of Sergio Perez' home town of Guadalajara to cheer the first Mexican Formula One driver in over 30 years.
The 21-year old Sauber 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 Perez, 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 the programme was rounded off by a NASCAR show, which involved Sergio's brother Antonio Perez, bike shows and parades involving the police and vintage cars.