Memo Rojas
Encyclopedia
Guillermo "Memo" Rojas, Jr. (born August 18, 1981) is a Mexican
professional race car driver. Successful in American sports car racing
, Rojas is a two-time series champion in the Rolex Sports Car Series
and a two-time winner of the 24 Hours of Daytona
. He is the first Mexican driver to win a major American racing championship.
; in 1996 he moved up to professional racing in the Mexican Formula Two
series. Heading to the United States
in 1997, he joined the Barber Dodge series, before returning to Mexico in 1998 to race for two years in the national Formula Three
series.
Returning to the United States in 2000, he spent two years racing in the American Formula Ford 2000 series, before moving up to the Barber Dodge Pro Series
for the 2002 and 2003 seasons, claiming two wins during his time in the series, and finishing second in the series championship in 2003. He then graduated to the European Formula Renault
series with DAMS Racing in 2004, scoring two top-five finishes over the course of the year. In 2005 he returned to the United States, racing in the Toyota Atlantic championship series for a single race at the Fundidora Park
circuit in Monterrey
.
to compete in the Grand American Road Racing Rolex Sports Car Series
, as a teammate to Scott Pruett
. Claiming his first win in the series in 2007, Rojas won his first 24 Hours of Daytona
endurance race the following year with co-drivers Pruett, Juan Pablo Montoya
and Dario Franchitti
. The victory propelled Rojas and Pruett to the Rolex Sports Car Series championship that year, setting a series record for the most victories in a season with six wins over the course of the year.
In 2009, Rojas would finish second in the Rolex Sports Car Series championship standings, only six points out of first place at the end of the year, before returning in 2010 to once again win the series championship partnered with Pruett. Over the course of the year Rojas set another series record for most victories in a season with nine, and finished on the podium eleven times in twelve races.
Rojas' 2011 season started with a co-victory, parnered with Pruett, Graham Rahal
and Joey Hand
, in the 24 Hours of Daytona
, his second win in the event.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
professional race car driver. Successful in American sports car racing
Sports car racing
Sports car racing is a form of circuit auto racing with automobiles that have two seats and enclosed wheels. They may be purpose-built or related to road-going sports cars....
, Rojas is a two-time series champion in the Rolex Sports Car Series
Rolex Sports Car Series
The Rolex Sports Car Series is the premier series run by the Grand American Road Racing Association. It is a North American-based sports car series that was founded in 2000 under the name Grand American Road Racing Championship to replace the failed United States Road Racing Championship...
and a two-time winner of the 24 Hours of Daytona
24 Hours of Daytona
The 24 Hours of Daytona, currently known as the Rolex 24 Daytona for sponsorship reasons, is a 24-hour sports car endurance race held annually at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is run on a combined road course, utilizing portions of the NASCAR tri-oval and an infield...
. He is the first Mexican driver to win a major American racing championship.
Early career
Rojas began his racing career in 1993, racing kartsKart racing
Kart racing or karting is a variant of open-wheel motorsport with small, open, four-wheeled vehicles called karts, go-karts, or gearbox/shifter karts depending on the design. They are usually raced on scaled-down circuits...
; in 1996 he moved up to professional racing in the Mexican Formula Two
Formula Two
Formula Two, abbreviated to F2, is a type of open wheel formula racing. It was replaced by Formula 3000 in 1985, but the FIA announced in 2008 that Formula Two would return for 2009 in the form of the FIA Formula Two Championship...
series. Heading to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1997, he joined the Barber Dodge series, before returning to Mexico in 1998 to race for two years in the national Formula Three
Formula Three
Formula Three, also called Formula 3 or F3, is a class of open-wheel formula racing. The various championships held in Europe, Australia, South America and Asia form an important step for many prospective Formula One drivers...
series.
Returning to the United States in 2000, he spent two years racing in the American Formula Ford 2000 series, before moving up to the Barber Dodge Pro Series
Barber Dodge Pro Series
The Barber Pro Series was an entry-level open-wheel auto racing series from 1986 to 2003. The races were primarily on road and street courses in North America, although the schedule did sometimes include a few ovals....
for the 2002 and 2003 seasons, claiming two wins during his time in the series, and finishing second in the series championship in 2003. He then graduated to the European Formula Renault
Formula Renault
Formula Renault is a class of formula racing founded in 1971. It is popular in Europe and other countries. Regarded as an entry-level series to motor racing, it is a respected series where drivers can learn advanced racecraft before moving on to Formula Three, World Series by Renault, GP2 or...
series with DAMS Racing in 2004, scoring two top-five finishes over the course of the year. In 2005 he returned to the United States, racing in the Toyota Atlantic championship series for a single race at the Fundidora Park
Fundidora Park
-History and location:This urban sustainable park is geolocated inside the former Monterrey Foundry Property with an area of . The Monterrey Foundry operated from 1900 until its bankruptcy in 1986...
circuit in Monterrey
Monterrey
Monterrey , is the capital city of the northeastern state of Nuevo León in the country of Mexico. The city is anchor to the third-largest metropolitan area in Mexico and is ranked as the ninth-largest city in the nation. Monterrey serves as a commercial center in the north of the country and is the...
.
Grand-Am
Switching from open-wheel racing to sports cars in 2007, Rojas joined Chip Ganassi RacingChip Ganassi Racing
Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates is an automotive racing organization with teams competing in the IZOD IndyCar Series and the Rolex Sports Car Series. It is owned by businessmen Chip Ganassi and Felix Sabates. They have won 4 Champ Car, 3 Indy Racing League and 1 Grand-Am championships...
to compete in the Grand American Road Racing Rolex Sports Car Series
Rolex Sports Car Series
The Rolex Sports Car Series is the premier series run by the Grand American Road Racing Association. It is a North American-based sports car series that was founded in 2000 under the name Grand American Road Racing Championship to replace the failed United States Road Racing Championship...
, as a teammate to Scott Pruett
Scott Pruett
Scott Donald Pruett is an American race car driver who has competed in NASCAR, Champ Car, IMSA, Trans-Am and Grand-Am. He and his wife Judy have three children, and are children's book authors....
. Claiming his first win in the series in 2007, Rojas won his first 24 Hours of Daytona
24 Hours of Daytona
The 24 Hours of Daytona, currently known as the Rolex 24 Daytona for sponsorship reasons, is a 24-hour sports car endurance race held annually at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is run on a combined road course, utilizing portions of the NASCAR tri-oval and an infield...
endurance race the following year with co-drivers Pruett, Juan Pablo Montoya
Juan Pablo Montoya
Juan Pablo Montoya Roldán is a Colombian race car driver known internationally for participating and winning in Formula One and CART race competitions. He has enjoyed great success. Currently, he competes in NASCAR, driving the #42 Target Chevrolet Impala for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing in the Sprint...
and Dario Franchitti
Dario Franchitti
George Dario Marino Franchitti is a Scottish racing driver. He formerly competed in the CART series before switching to the IndyCar Series where he was 2007 champion, and won the rain-shortened 2007 Indianapolis 500. Franchitti is also a former NASCAR driver for Chip Ganassi Racing, competing...
. The victory propelled Rojas and Pruett to the Rolex Sports Car Series championship that year, setting a series record for the most victories in a season with six wins over the course of the year.
In 2009, Rojas would finish second in the Rolex Sports Car Series championship standings, only six points out of first place at the end of the year, before returning in 2010 to once again win the series championship partnered with Pruett. Over the course of the year Rojas set another series record for most victories in a season with nine, and finished on the podium eleven times in twelve races.
Rojas' 2011 season started with a co-victory, parnered with Pruett, Graham Rahal
Graham Rahal
Graham Rahal is an American race car driver. He currently participates in the IZOD IndyCar Series. He is the son of 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal.-Early racing:...
and Joey Hand
Joey Hand
Joey Hand is an American professional race car driver. A former champion of the Star Mazda Series, Hand is best known as a sports car driver, and is co-winner of the 2011 24 Hours of Daytona driving for Chip Ganassi Racing.-Personal life:...
, in the 24 Hours of Daytona
2011 24 Hours of Daytona
The 2011 Rolex 24 at Daytona, ran on Saturday and Sunday, January 29–30, 2011 at the Daytona International Speedway, was the 49th running of the 24 Hours of Daytona endurance race...
, his second win in the event.
Grand Am Results
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 2007 Rolex Sports Car Series season The 2007 Rolex Sports Car Series season was the eighth season of the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Special Reserve. The 15-race championship for Daytona Prototypes and GT cars began January 27, 2007 and concluded on September 15, 2007. Alex Gurney and Jon Fogarty shared... |
TELMEX Chip Ganassi with Felix Sabates |  R24 2007 Rolex 24 At Daytona The 2007 Rolex 24 At Daytona was a Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series 24-hour endurance sports car race held on January 27–28, 2007. The overall winner of the race was the Chip Ganassi/Felix Sabates-owned #01 car, a Lexus-powered Riley MkXI, driven by Juan Pablo Montoya, Salvador Durán and Scott Pruett... 21 |
 MEX 2007 Mexico City 400k The 2007 Mexico City 400k was a Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series race held on March 3, 2007. The race was won by Alex Gurney and Jon Fogarty, driving the No. 99 GAINSCO Auto Insurance Pontiac Riley, campaigned by GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing.-Results:... 4 |
MIA 3 |
 VIR 8 |
 MRY 2 |
 S6H 6 Hours of Watkins Glen The Six Hours of Watkins Glen is a sports car endurance race held annually at Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, New York... 2 |
 MID 2 |
DAY 6 |
 IOW 1 |
 BAR 5 |
 MON 5 |
WGI 3 |
SON 3 |
 MIL 9 |
4 | 381 |
| 2008 2008 Rolex Sports Car Series season The 2008 Rolex Sports Car Series season is the ninth season of the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16. The 14-race championship for Daytona Prototypes and 13-race championship for Grand Touring cars began January 26, 2008 and will conclude on September 20, 2008... |
Chip Ganassi with Felix Sabates | R24 1 |
MIA 1 |
MEX 2 |
VIR 1 |
MRY 3 |
S6H 6 Hours of Watkins Glen The Six Hours of Watkins Glen is a sports car endurance race held annually at Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, New York... 1 |
MID 8 |
DAY 1 |
BAR 1 |
MON 5 |
WGI 13 |
SON 6 |
 NJP 9 |
MIL 9 |
1 | 408 |
| 2009 2009 Rolex Sports Car Series season The 2009 Rolex Sports Car Series season is the tenth season of the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16. It is a 12-race schedule beginning at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and ending at Homestead-Miami Speedway... |
Chip Ganassi with Felix Sabates | R24 2009 Rolex 24 At Daytona The 2009 Rolex 24 at Daytona Presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 is the first round of the 2009 Rolex Sports Car Series season. It took place at Daytona International Speedway between January 24–25, 2009.-Race results:Class Winners in bold.... 2 |
VIR 12 |
NJP 9 |
LAG 2 |
S6H 6 Hours of Watkins Glen The Six Hours of Watkins Glen is a sports car endurance race held annually at Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, New York... 1 |
LEX 1 |
DAY 7 |
BAR 2 |
WGI 2 |
MON 10 |
MIL 3 |
MIA 2 |
2 | 331 | ||
| 2010 2010 Rolex Sports Car Series season The 2010 Rolex Sports Car Series season was the 11th season of the Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16. It began on January 30 with the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona... |
Chip Ganassi with Felix Sabates | R24 2 |
MIA 1 |
BAR 1 |
VIR 1 |
 LIM 26 |
S6H 6 Hours of Watkins Glen The Six Hours of Watkins Glen is a sports car endurance race held annually at Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, New York... 1 |
LEX 1 |
DAY 1 |
NJP 2 |
WGI 1 |
MON 1 |
MIL 1 |
1 | 372 | ||
| 2011 2011 Rolex Sports Car Series season The 2011 Rolex Sports Car Series season was the twelfth season of Grand Am's premier series. Continental Tire became the official tire supplier for Grand-Am... |
Chip Ganassi with Felix Sabates | R24 1 |
MIA 1 |
BAR 1 |
VIR 2 |
LIM 7 |
S6H 6 Hours of Watkins Glen The Six Hours of Watkins Glen is a sports car endurance race held annually at Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, New York... 2 |
 ELK 1 |
LAG 2 |
NJP 1 |
WGI 2 |
MON 5 |
LEX 2 |
1 | 385 |
External links
- Memo Rojas at Driver Database