Jo Ramirez

Jo Ramirez, hailing from the same Mexican town as renowned racing brothers Ricardo and Pedro Rodriguez, shared their passion for motorsport but lacked the financial backing to pursue it at the same level. He began his education in mechanical engineering at Mexico City University but made a pivotal decision to drop out and accompany his friend Ricardo to Europe in 1961. This journey led to a defining moment at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, where Ricardo astoundingly qualified on the front row. Tragically, the race was marred by the fatal crash of team leader Wolfgang von Trips, which also resulted in spectator casualties. Despite Ricardo's promising performance, he ultimately retired due to mechanical issues.

In the subsequent years, Ramirez continued to support his friend, witnessing Ricardo's impressive finishes, including second at Pau and fourth in the Belgian GP. However, a tragic accident at the Mexican GP in 1962 claimed Ricardo's life. Heartbroken, Ramirez returned to Europe, where he worked with prestigious teams such as Maserati and Lamborghini. In 1966, he relocated to England to join Ford and later became part of Dan Gurney's Eagle F1 team.

After a successful stint in CanAm, IndyCars, and TransAm, he returned to the UK as chief mechanic for the Gulf Porsche team. By 1972, he was back in Formula One with the Tyrrell team, supporting legends like Jackie Stewart and Francois Cevert until 1975. He then became team manager for the Copersucar-Fittipaldi team, followed by roles with Shadow, ATS, and Theodore, culminating in his tenure as team coordinator for McLaren from 1984 to 2001, a period that included the intense Prost-Senna rivalry. Ramirez retired in 2001, leaving behind a legacy in the world of motorsport.