30/10/2015
NEWS STORY
Sergio Perez will wear a special Mexican-themed race suit this weekend, designed by an F1 fan from the UK.
Ric Scott, of Cumbria, won Alpinestars and Sahara Force India's global '#Mexifan: Design a Racing Suit for Sergio Perez' competition.
Depicting an Aztec pyramid against a blazing sunset, the winning design was unveiled by Perez at the start of the Mexican Grand Prix weekend at a special media event held in front of the team's garage.
Scott's creation was chosen from a remarkably high number of entries, with over 250 designs from budding and established designers from as far afield as the Philippines, India and New Zealand, with a huge response from Sergio's native country, Mexico.
The winning suit design celebrates Sergio's home appearance in a very special and hugely anticipated Grand Prix, with the world championship returning to motorsports-mad Mexico after a 23-year hiatus.
Perez was so impressed with the design that Alpinestars and Force India specially commissioned a unique set of gloves and racing shoes to complement the suit for this race weekend. He will wear the special ensemble when he climbs into the VJM08.
Describing the design, Perez said: "I am really happy to be able to wear a suit with such a cool design for my home race. The winning design is perfectly Mexican: it celebrates my country's history and our culture. Racing in my home Grand Prix is a dream come true, something I have only been able to imagine for many years, and to have this special suit is going to make it even more special: it's exciting and I can't wait to wear it."
During the weekend, Perez and the team will formally present one of the suits to the Mexican President, Enrique Peņa Nieto, in celebration of the occasion.
Check out our Friday gallery, here.