Jo Ramirez - Memories Of A Racing Man

By: Jo Ramirez .

Jo Ramirez is one of the best-liked and most respected Formula One personalities of recent years, and is held in high esteem both inside and outside the Grand Prix paddock. Here is his personal account of his life in motor racing, told with humour, warmth and joy, and providing an honest insight into the highs and lows of a career that saw him work with many of the sport's greatest heroes.

During his early life in Mexico, Jo was fascinated by all things mechanical, and developed a life-long passion for racing cars. His close relationship with the Rodriguez brothers during his teenage years in Mexico City resulted in him following them to Europe in 1962 to pursue his dream of a career in motor racing.

After working briefly as a 'gopher' for Ferrari, Jo worked for a Formula Junior team, before moving to Maserati and then to Ferrucio Lamborghini's embryonic sports car company.

In 1964, Jo travelled to England to work for Ford Advanced Vehicles with the Ford GT40 in sports car racing. There then followed a five-year spell at Dan Gurney's All American Racers team, before an invitation from John Wyer to return to the UK to work with Porsche Gulf Sport, alongside drivers Pedro Rodriguez, Jackie Oliver, Jo Siffert and Derek Bell.

In 1972, Jo returned to Grand Prix racing with Tyrrell, where he worked with Jackie Stewart and Francois Cevert. Following a character-building spell as Team Manager at the Fittipaldi brothers' Copersucar team, Shadow, ATS and Theodore, he moved for the 1984 season to Ron Dennis's McLaren, a team with which he was to remain until his retirement in 2001. During his years at McLaren, Jo formed strong relationships with both Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna as they fought for supremacy both on and off the track.

Jo is now enjoying his retirement, but keeps in regular touch with his many friends and former colleagues in motorsport, and is in demand for his views on both the past and contemporary Formula One scene.

Here is Jo's story, in his own words — a compelling read that will delight all fans of motor racing.

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