Memo Rojas
Rojas in 2019
NationalityMexico Mexican
Born (1981-08-18) August 18, 1981
Mexico City, Mexico
Related toMemo Rojas Sr.
United SportsCar Championship career
Debut season2007 (as Grand-Am)
Current teamDeltaWing
Car number0
Starts91
Wins28
Poles8
Best finish1st in 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012
Previous series
2004
2002–2003
2000–2001
1997–1998		Formula Renault
Barber Dodge Pro Series
Formula Ford 2000
Formula 3 Mexico
Championship titles
2017, 2019
2008, 2010, 2011, 2012		ELMS - LMP2
Rolex Sports Car Series

Guillermo "Memo" Rojas Jr. (born August 18, 1981) is a Mexican former race car driver. Successful in American sports car racing, Rojas is a four-time series champion in the Rolex Sports Car Series, a three-time winner of the 24 Hours of Daytona, and a two-time European Le Mans Series champion. He is the first Mexican driver to win a major American racing championship.[1]

Personal life

Rojas was born in 1981 in Mexico City, Mexico.[1] He is son of the Mexican driver Guillermo Rojas, Sr.

Career

Early career

Rojas began his racing career in 1993, racing karts; 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.[2]

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.[2] He then graduated to the European Formula Renault series with DAMS in 2004, scoring two top-five finishes over the course of the year.[2] 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.[2]

Grand-Am

2011 Grand-Am Daytona Prototype with Scott Pruett

Switching from open-wheel racing to sports cars in 2007, Rojas joined Chip Ganassi Racing 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,[1] Rojas won his first 24 Hours of Daytona endurance race the following year with co-drivers Pruett, Juan Pablo Montoya and Dario Franchitti.[1][3] The victory propelled Rojas and Pruett to the Rolex Sports Car Series championship that year,[4] setting a series record for the most victories in a season with six wins over the course of the year.[1]

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.[1] 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.[1][5]

Rojas' 2011 season started with a co-victory, partnered with Pruett, Graham Rahal and Joey Hand, in the 24 Hours of Daytona, his second win in the event.[6]

On the 51st edition of the 24 Hours of Daytona on January 26–27, 2013 Memo Rojas got the first place, winning his third 24 Hours of Daytona, along with his co-drivers Juan Pablo Montoya, Scott Pruett and Charlie Kimball.[7][8]

12 Hours of Sebring

On the 62nd edition of the 12 Hours of Sebring on March 15, 2014, Memo Rojas Jr., from Telmex Ganassi Riley Mk XXVI-Ford EcoBoost DP team won the second round of the new United SportsCar Championship by just under five seconds as nine cars in the Prototype class finished on the lead lap. Along with his co-drivers Scott Pruett and Marino Franchitti, Rojas Jr., become the first Mexican to achieve a victory in the 12 Hours of Sebring.[9][10][11]

Retirement

After 31 years of professional career, on December 11, 2023, Memo Rojas, Jr., announces his retirement from motorsport.[12]

Racing record

Racing career summary

Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
1996 Formula Reynard México N/A ? ? ? ? ? ? 4th
1997 Copa Corona Fórmula 3 Mexicana Motorcraft, Dynamic Motorsports 8 1 0 2 3 87 2nd
1998 Copa Corona Fórmula 3 Mexicana N/A ? ? ? ? ? ? 3rd
1999 Barber Dodge Pro Series N/A 7 0 0 0 1 33 15th
2000 U.S. F2000 National Championship N/A 13 0 0 0 2 158 6th
2001 U.S. F2000 National Championship Roquin Motorsports 13 0 1 0 2 180 6th
2002 Barber Dodge Pro Series N/A 10 0 0 1 3 95 5th
2003 Barber Dodge Pro Series N/A 10 2 2 0 6 128 2nd
2004 Formula Renault V6 Eurocup Telmex-DAMS 19 0 0 0 1 62 16th
2005 Atlantic Championship Brooks Associates Racing 1 0 0 0 0 17 18th
2007 Grand American Rolex Series - DP Target Chip Ganassi Racing 14 1 0 0 7 381 4th
2008 Grand American Rolex Series - DP Chip Ganassi Racing 14 6 1 0 8 408 1st
2009 Grand American Rolex Series - DP Chip Ganassi Racing 12 2 3 0 8 331 2nd
2010 Grand American Rolex Series - DP Chip Ganassi Racing 12 9 4 0 11 372 1st
2011 Grand American Rolex Series - DP Chip Ganassi Racing 12 5 0 0 10 385 1st
2012 Grand American Rolex Series - DP Chip Ganassi Racing 13 2 0 0 8 379 1st
2013 Grand American Rolex Series - DP Chip Ganassi Racing 12 2 1 0 7 326 2nd
2014 United Sports Car Championship - Prototype Chip Ganassi Racing 11 3 0 0 6 285 6th
2015 United Sports Car Championship - Prototype DeltaWing Racing Cars w/ Claro/TracFone 9 0 0 0 0 207 8th
2016 European Le Mans Series - LMP2 Greaves Motorsport 6 0 0 0 0 36 10th
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP2 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 6th
IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTLM Scuderia Corsa 1 0 0 0 0 29 24th
2017 European Le Mans Series - LMP2 G-Drive Racing 6 1 0 0 5 110 1st
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP2 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 17th
2018 European Le Mans Series - LMP2 IDEC Sport 6 0 0 0 2 64 4th
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP2 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
2019 European Le Mans Series - LMP2 IDEC Sport 6 1 0 0 4 125 1st
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP2 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 5th
2020 European Le Mans Series - LMP2 DragonSpeed USA 3 0 0 0 0 5.5 23rd
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP2 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
2021 European Le Mans Series - LMP2 Duqueine Team 6 0 0 0 1 52 7th
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP2 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 9th
2022 European Le Mans Series - LMP2 Duqueine Team 6 0 0 0 0 20 14th
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP2 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 25th
Formula Ford Mexico N/A 3 0 1 0 2 0 NC†
2023 FIA World Endurance Championship - LMP2 Alpine Elf Team 7 0 0 0 0 23 18th
Sources:[13][14]

† As Rojas was a guest driver, he was ineligible to score points.

* Season still in progress.

American Open-Wheel racing results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, races in italics indicate fastest race lap)

Barber Dodge Pro Series

Atlantic Championship

Rolex Sports Car Series (Grand-Am)

(key)

♯ Did not complete 30 minutes drive time. No driver's points awarded.

24 Hours of Daytona

WeatherTech SportsCar Championship

(key)(Races in bold indicate pole position, Results are overall/class)

Year Team Class Make Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Rank Points Ref
2014 Chip Ganassi Racing P Ford EcoBoost Riley DP Ford Ecoboost 3.5 L V6 Turbo DAY
11		 SEB
1		 LBH
1		 LGA
3		 DET
11		 WGL
8		 MOS
9		 IMS
2		 ELK
7		 COA
1		 PET
3		 6th 285 [28]
2015 DeltaWing Racing Cars w/ Claro/TracFone P DeltaWing DWC13 Élan (Mazda) 1.9 L I4 Turbo DAY
15		 SEB
12		 LBH
9		 LGA
8		 DET WGL
8		 MOS
8		 ELK
6		 COA
7		 PET
8		 8th 207 [29]
2016 Scuderia Corsa GTLM Ferrari 488 GTE Ferrari F154CB 3.9 L Turbo V8 DAY
4		 SEB LBH LGA WGL MOS LIM ELK VIR COA PET 24th 29 [30]
Source:[14]

12 Hours of Sebring

24 Hours of Le Mans results

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
2016 United Kingdom Greaves Motorsport France Nathanaël Berthon
France Julien Canal		 Ligier JS P2-Nissan LMP2 348 10th 6th
2017 Russia G-Drive Racing Japan Ryō Hirakawa
Mexico José Gutiérrez		 Oreca 07-Gibson LMP2 327 39th 17th
2018 France IDEC Sport France Paul Lafargue
France Paul-Loup Chatin		 Oreca 07-Gibson LMP2 312 DNF DNF
2019 France IDEC Sport France Paul Lafargue
France Paul-Loup Chatin		 Oreca 07-Gibson LMP2 364 10th 5th
2020 United States DragonSpeed USA France Timothé Buret
Colombia Juan Pablo Montoya		 Oreca 07-Gibson LMP2 192 DNF DNF
2021 France Duqueine Team France Tristan Gommendy
Austria René Binder		 Oreca 07-Gibson LMP2 357 14th 9th
2022 France Duqueine Team United Kingdom Richard Bradley
France Reshad de Gerus		 Oreca 07-Gibson LMP2 326 52nd 25th
2023 France Alpine Elf Team United Kingdom Olli Caldwell
Brazil André Negrão		 Oreca 07-Gibson LMP2 323 19th 9th
Sources:[14][31][32]

European Le Mans Series Results

Year Entrant Class Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 Rank Points
2016 Greaves Motorsport LMP2 Ligier JS P2 Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8 SIL
8		 IMO
8		 RBR
6		 LEC
6		 SPA
4		 EST
Ret		 10th 36
2017 G-Drive Racing LMP2 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 SIL
2		 MON
1		 RBR
2		 LEC
2		 SPA
2		 EST
4		 1st 110
2018 IDEC Sport LMP2 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 LEC
7		 MNZ
3		 RBR
4		 SIL
3		 SPA
4‡		 ALG
6		 4th 64
2019 IDEC Sport LMP2 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 LEC
2		 MNZ
2		 CAT
5		 SIL
1		 SPA
5		 ALG
1		 1st 105
2020 DragonSpeed USA LMP2 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 LEC
8		 SPA
14		 LEC
10		 MNZ ALG 23rd 5.5
2021 Duqueine Team LMP2 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 CAT
6		 RBR
9		 LEC
4		 MNZ
5		 SPA
2		 ALG
Ret		 7th 52
2022 Duqueine Team LMP2 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 LEC
12		 IMO
6		 MNZ
Ret		 CAT
6		 SPA
9		 ALG
9		 14th 20
Sources:[14][27]

‡ Half points awarded as less than 75% of race distance was completed.

Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Class Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Rank Points
2023 Alpine Elf Team LMP2 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 SEB
Ret		 ALG
10		 SPA
8		 LMS
7		 MNZ
8		 FUJ
11		 BHR
10		 18th 23
Sources:[14][27]

* Season still in progress.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Memo Rojas". Grand American Road Racing. Retrieved 2011-01-31.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Memo Rojas joins field for Monterrey race". Motorsport.com. May 17, 2005. Archived from the original on 2005-05-27. Retrieved 2011-01-31.
  3. ↑ Garrow, Mark (February 15, 2008). "The Good, The Bad, The Ugly: Daytona 500". ESPN. Retrieved 2011-01-31.
  4. ↑ Grand-Am Communications (September 21, 2008). "GRAND-AM: Shank Team Claims Miller Finale". SPEED Channel. Archived from the original on March 14, 2012. Retrieved 2011-01-31.
  5. ↑ Pruett, Marshall (September 20, 2010). "GRAND-AM: The Year Of Ganassi". SPEED Channel. Archived from the original on November 29, 2010. Retrieved 2011-01-31.
  6. ↑ Dagys, John (January 30, 2011). "ROLEX 24: Ganassi Goes Big With Rolex 1-2". SPEED Channel. Retrieved 2011-01-30.
  7. ↑ "Ganassi Team Takes 51st Rolex 24; Pruett Ties Record with Fifth Victory". Archived from the original on 2013-01-29. Retrieved 2013-01-28.
  8. ↑ "GrandAm > Schedule/Results > results". Archived from the original on 2013-01-27. Retrieved 2013-01-27.
  9. ↑ "Sebring 12 Hours: Ganassi's Pruett, Rojas and Franchitti take win - United SportsCar news - AUTOSPORT.com". www.autosport.com. Archived from the original on 2014-03-16.
  10. ↑ "Ganassi gets 1st win in Twelve Hours of Sebring". 16 March 2014.
  11. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-03-19. Retrieved 2014-03-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. ↑ "Memo Rojas met un terme à sa carrière". Endurance Info (in French). Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  13. ↑ "Memo Rojas". Driver Database. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Memo Rojas Results". Motorsport Stats. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  15. ↑ "Barber Dodge Pro Series 1998 Final Point Standings – Updated After Round 12 – Laguna Seca – 10/28/98". Barber Dodge Pro Series. Archived from the original on 7 October 2000. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  16. ↑ "1999 Final Point Standings – Updated After Round 12 – Watkins Glen – Watkins Glen, New York – October 4, 1999". Barber Dodge Pro Series. Archived from the original on 15 August 2000. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  17. ↑ "Barber Dodge Pro Series - Season 2002". Speedsport Magazine. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  18. ↑ "Barber Dodge Pro Series - Season 2003". Speedsport Magazine. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  19. ↑ "Memo Rojas". Atlantic Championship. Archived from the original on 11 February 2006. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  20. ↑ "Memo Rojas – 2007 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  21. ↑ "Memo Rojas – 2008 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  22. ↑ "Memo Rojas – 2009 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  23. ↑ "Memo Rojas – 2010 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  24. ↑ "Memo Rojas – 2011 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  25. ↑ "Memo Rojas – 2012 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  26. ↑ "Memo Rojas – 2013 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  27. 1 2 3 4 "Complete Archive of Memo Rojas". Racing Sports Cars. pp. 2, 3, 4, 5. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  28. ↑ "Memo Rojas – 2014 Tudor United SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  29. ↑ "Memo Rojas – 2015 Tudor United SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  30. ↑ "Memo Rojas – 2016 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  31. ↑ "Memo Rojas". Automobile Club de l'Ouest. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  32. ↑ "Guillermo Rojas". Automobile Club de l'Ouest. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
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