Pedro Rodriguez enjoyed a long and successful career as a top line racing driver before his life was curtailed at the Norisring in 1971. Although Pedro was undoubtedly a special talent, particularly in the wet, his younger brother Ricardo was the more promising of the two in the early sixties. Sadly, Ricardo’s career would be bright, but tragically brief.
Ricardo was born on Valentine’s Day, 1942, in Mexico City. Growing up he enjoyed cycling and became a champion, before progressing to motorcycles. The transition was seamless and Ricardo won many titles. Cars seemed just as easy to tame and, after some saloon car outings, he made his international debut as early as 1957. At Riverside he won his maiden international race, driving a Porsche RS. The young Mexican had made an instant impact.
In 1958 Ricardo hoped to compete in the Le Mans 24 Hours race, but his age meant that an entry was not forthcoming. He returned the following year and, in 1960, finished second. The wily Enzo Ferrari had taken note of Ricardo’s performances and, in 1961, offered him a drive in Formula 1 at the Italian Grand Prix. Unfazed by his promotion to the sport’s premier category, Ricardo duly qualified his 156 ‘sharknose’ in second position. A fuel pump failure forced his retirement from the race, although it was of little consequence compared to the accident which claimed the life of Ricardo’s team-mate Count Wolfgang “Taffy” von Trips and 14 spectators.
Ferrari was pleased with his new recruit and, for 1962, provided Ricardo with a works drive. The Ferrari’s, which had been dominant in 1961, no longer held an advantage over the opposition. Although Ricardo failed to win a race, he did finish second at Pau. Away from Formula 1 he did win the Targa Florio, sharing a Ferrari with Willy Mairesse and Olivier Gendebien.
Ricardo’s birthplace, Mexico City, was a new fixture on the Formula 1 calendar for 1962. To his dismay, Ferrari decided not to send cars for the race and so Ricardo, desperate to shine at home, ended up in a Lotus run by the veteran English entrant Rob Walker. The final corner on the circuit, Peraltada, was fast and banked, leading onto the main straight with its packed grandstands. In his book, “Risk Life, Risk Limb”, published in 1968 by Pelham books, Michael Cooper-Evans described Ricardo’s final moments during qualifying as, “a surfeit of patriotism”. Entering the corner too fast the Lotus left the circuit and Ricardo was killed instantly, at just 20 years of age.
Pedro considered retiring following Ricardo’s death, but ultimately went on to a highly successful career. Today, the circuit in Mexico City is named in honour of the two brothers.
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