46 GQ.CO.ZA MAY 2017La Carrera
Panamericana is
widely regarded as
the most gruelling
road race on earth.
GQ motoring editor
Dieter Losskarn
drove a small
section of itI
s there a better way to celebrate the opening of
a new road than with a road race? Especially
when the piece of tarmac is as iconic as the
Pan-American Highway. In May 1950, the
Mexican government commissioned the La Carrera
Mexicana – a race that would go on to become one
of famous events on the motoring calendar. It also
became one of the most dangerous: 27 people died
between 1950 and 1955, and only one third of all the
cars ever entered crossed the i nish line.
At the time it was one leg of the world’s sports car
championship series, along with the Mille Miglia,LA CARRERA –
THE TOUGH ONE