ANTONIO «CHECO» PÉREZ
THE WORLD CHANGES WITH CRAZY PEOPLE
MR. ANTONIO PEREZ GARIBAY –FATHER AND REPRESENTATIVE OF SERGIO «EL CHECO» PEREZ– VISITED CUBA AND WAS SO GENTILE TO GIVE
EXCELENCIAS DEL MOTOR AN INTERVIEW. KIND, SMILING AND VERY MEXICAN, MR. PEREZ GAVE US OVER AN HOUR OF HIS TIME AND UNVEILED THE MOST PRECIOUS SECRET RELATED TO THE SUCCESS
ACHIEVED BY «CHECO». SERGIO PEREZ IS A WELL-RANKED FORMULA 1 DRIVER. HOW HAS HE MADE THIS FAR? WHERE DOES HIS STRENGTH COME FROM? Well, some people believe that motor racing is a millionaire-only sport. It actually takes a lot of money or you cannot develop your team. Our case is completely different. I’m talking about the Perez’s. We only had our heart in the very beginning. Talent filled the empty spaces. We used to race in the streets of Leon, Monterey, there was dust everywhere and that gives you skills, since the driver has to be focused on the shifts. SERGIO HAS SAID THAT YOU COULD FINISH THIRD THIS YEAR. YOU WERE IN THE FOURTH POSITION LAST YEAR. HOW CAN YOU DO THAT, SINCE FORCE INDIA IS KIND OF «THE CINDERELLA» IN THE MAJORS? «Checo» began driving Karting at the age of six. Those were poor karts, we didn’t have tires so we had to use those thrown away by other people. He has always been able of dealing with low resources.
He learned to drive to the limit, find the tire’s «feeling» and make the most of it. That can be translated into hundredths, seconds, qualifying points and even podiums.That’s the way of «Checo». IS THERE ANYTHING THAT DEFINES HIM? You can quote him, since this phrase has been coined by «Checo», it is harsh, but it is the maxim of his life: «IN THIS LIFE YOU HAVE TO F*** YOURSELF, IF YOU TRULY WANT SOMETHING, YOU HAVE TO F*** YOURSELF… AND PRESS YOUR CHEST». We used to sleep in cars, because we couldn’t pay for hotel rooms. If that lack of resources makes you suffer, just back off, this is not your thing. So, he is defined by love, passion, absolute devotion to the sport; that’s what makes him different from the rest. WE INTERVIEWED MR. NIKKI LAUDA YEARS AGO AND HE WAS AN ENTHUSIAST OF MOTOR RACING IN CUBA. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT MOTOR RACING IN CUBA? I believe there is great potential. The efforts must be focused on Karting, which is the breeding ground. That’s the origin of «Checo». That is the reason why our hopes go with Sergio’s new project, with the launch of his Karts, focused on Latin America, where you can find natural talents. We are here to tell you: WE ARE READY, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
HOW ABOUT CUBA? It’s incredible. Gorgeous, warm, fantastic. There is talent everywhere. Wherever you go, you find extraordinary and clever solutions. From «almendrones» to house restorations. The world is changed by people like this, crazy people and that’s the spirit behind «Checo». The future of Cuba is big, but its people is bigger.