A1 GP: Mexico and Brazil Join

Mexico's dignitaries turned out in force yesterday to support the launch of the new team.

"We are very excited that Mexico is going to have the opportunity to participate in the World Cup of Motorsport," said A1 Team Mexico president Juan Cortina. "Mexico has all the ingredients to be very competitive in this new and exciting series and we are very proud to be able to build this winning team."

Mexico became the first American country to launch their team. The series will involve teams from 25 countries using identical single-seater Lola cars run on a franchise basis.

"I am immensely proud to attend the first launch of an A1 team from the Americas and would like to take this opportunity to welcome them into the growing A1 family," said A1 GP President and Chairman Sheikh Maktoum, who also announced that the Brazilian team had been sold to football star Ronaldo.

"It's an honour to represent Brazil in any way I can whether that's on the football pitch or by backing our national motorsport team," said Ronaldo. "Like football, A1 Grand Prix is a team sport. Ultimately, it will be the country who will win the World Cup of Motorsport, not the driver.

"We've won the football World Cup more times than any other nation - it would be great to win the first ever World Cup of Motorsport to go alongside it."

Mexican Champ Car driver Mario Dominguez will drive the A1 car at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez today.