Brothers Pedro and Ricardo Rodríguez, born in Mexico City, were two renowned Mexican drivers in the field of motorsport. From a young age, under the influence of their father Natalio Rodríguez, they developed their passion for car racing.
Pedro Rodríguez, the older brother, distinguished himself in his career by achieving four overall victories in the 24 Hours of Daytona, eleven in the World Sports Car Championship, and one in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1968. In Pedro's early competitions, we commemorate his first triumph for Mexico in the Belgian Grand Prix in 1970 at the Spa circuit.
On the other hand, Ricardo Rodríguez, two years younger than his brother, was a national champion in motorcycling and at the age of 14 had already won his first race in a Porsche 550. The history of Formula 1 in Mexico is marked by the influence of these two brothers, pioneers in motorsport in the country.
Unfortunately, the careers of the Rodríguez brothers had a tragic end. Pedro Rodríguez died in an accident during the 200-mile race at Norisring in Germany at the age of 31. He was driving a Ferrari 512M when he crashed into the guardrail at a speed of 280 km/h, suffering severe injuries that caused his death in the hospital.
The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, the venue for Formula 1 in Mexico, is named in honor of the brothers. Ricardo Rodríguez, known as the 'Golden Boy', also met a tragic end at the same circuit during a practice session in 1962. At the age of 19, he crashed in a high-speed corner, suffering multiple fractures and fatal injuries.
The passion of the Rodríguez brothers for racing left an indelible legacy in the history of motorsport in Mexico. Despite their premature deaths, their spirit and dedication live on in the memories of fans and in the Autódromo that bears their name in Mexico City.
