Moisés Solana Arciniega (26 December 1935 – 27 July 1969) was a pioneering Mexican racing driver whose versatility saw him compete across Formula One, Formula Two, sports cars and Can-Am racing during the 1960s. He started eight Formula One World Championship Grands Prix between 1963 and 1968, alongside one non-championship Formula One appearance, although he never scored championship points. Away from the cockpit, Solana was also an accomplished Jai alai player, using his success in the sport to help finance his racing career.
Driver Bio
| Nationality | Mexican |
| Birthplace | Mexico City, Mexico |
| Born | 26 December 1935 |
| Died | 27 July 1969 |
| First Grand Prix | 1963 Mexican Grand Prix |
| Last Grand Prix | 1968 Mexican Grand Prix |
| Years Active | 1963–1968 |
| Current/Last Team | Team Lotus |
Career
Solana’s passion for motorsport began in a car built especially for him by his brother, Javier Solana. Known as the Solana Sports, the bespoke 1954 special provided the foundation for a career that would establish him as one of Mexico’s leading racing drivers of the era.
His talent quickly became evident across a variety of disciplines. Alongside his Formula One commitments, Solana competed internationally in sports car racing, Formula Two and North American Group 7 competition, earning a reputation as a fast and adaptable driver capable of succeeding in very different machinery.
Formula One
Solana made his Formula One World Championship debut at his home race, the 1963 Mexican Grand Prix, driving for BRM. In doing so he became the first—and for more than 50 years, the only—driver to start a World Championship Grand Prix carrying the famous number 13. Although his engine failed with eight laps remaining, he had completed enough distance to be classified 11th.
That unique distinction remained untouched until Pastor Maldonado selected number 13 as his permanent Formula One race number under the championship’s revised numbering system introduced in 2014. Prior to that, Divina Galica had attempted to race with the number at the 1976 British Grand Prix but failed to qualify.
Across his Formula One career, Solana started eight World Championship Grands Prix and also competed in one non-championship Formula One event. While championship points eluded him, his performances helped cement his place among the first generation of Mexican drivers to compete regularly on the international stage.
Formula Two
In 1968, Solana expanded his European programme by competing in Formula Two with Team Lotus at Spain’s Jarama Circuit near Madrid. The same year, he was also invited to test a Formula Two car for Ferrari—an opportunity that reflected the respect he had earned through his performances across multiple categories.
Sports Cars and Can-Am
Between 1966 and 1968, Solana raced extensively in the USRRC and Can-Am championships, driving machinery from both Lola and McLaren.
One of the standout moments of his career came in March 1968, when he claimed victory in the opening points-paying race of the USRRC Group 7 season. Held in Mexico City, the event was the first international race staged there and represented a landmark success for both Solana and Mexican motorsport.
He also established an outstanding domestic record, setting numerous benchmarks in Mexican road racing while achieving multiple records at the Magdalena Mixhuca circuit in Mexico City.
Death
On 27 July 1969, Solana was tragically killed while competing in the Valle de Bravo–Bosencheve hillclimb in Mexico. During the event, his McLaren ran wide through a corner and struck a concrete roadside barrier. The impact overturned the car, which came to rest on top of him before catching fire. He was 33 years old.
More than half a century later, Solana remains one of the most influential figures in Mexican motorsport. His family has continued his legacy through an ongoing involvement in racing, including the design and construction of handcrafted sports cars, often produced as unique, one-off models.
His contribution to the sport is also permanently recognised at Mexico City’s Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, where the opening sequence of corners—Turns 1 to 3—is named the Ese Moisés Solana in his honour.
Grand Prix Stats
| Race Entries | 8 |
| Race Starts | 8 |
| Did Not Start | 0 |
| Best Race Start | 7th |
| Best Race Finish | 10th |
| Retirements | 6 |
| First-Lap Retirements | 0 |
| Not Classified | 0 |
| Disqualified | 0 |
| Did Not Qualify | 0 |
Qualifying
| Qualifying Sessions | 8 |
| Reached Q3 | 0 |
| Q2 Eliminations | 0 |
| Q1 Eliminations | 0 |
| Did Not Qualify | 0 |
Complete Formula One World Championship results
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | WDC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Scuderia Centro Sud | BRM P57 | BRM V8 | MON | BEL | NED | FRA | GBR | GER | ITA | USA | MEX 11 | RSA | NC | 0 | ||
| 1964 | Team Lotus | Lotus 33 | Climax V8 | MON | NED | BEL | FRA | GBR | GER | AUT | ITA | USA | MEX 10 | NC | 0 | ||
| 1965 | Team Lotus | Lotus 25 | Climax V8 | RSA | MON | BEL | FRA | GBR | NED | GER | ITA | USA 12 | MEX Ret | NC | 0 | ||
| 1966 | Cooper Car Company | Cooper T81 | Maserati V12 | MON | BEL | FRA | GBR | NED | GER | ITA | USA | MEX Ret | NC | 0 | |||
| 1967 | Team Lotus | Lotus 49 | Cosworth V8 | RSA | MON | NED | BEL | FRA | GBR | GER | CAN | ITA | USA Ret | MEX Ret | NC | 0 | |
| 1968 | Gold Leaf Team Lotus | Lotus 49B | Cosworth V8 | RSA | ESP | MON | BEL | NED | FRA | GBR | GER | ITA | CAN | USA | MEX Ret | NC | 0 |
Teammates & Qualifying Head-to-Head
| Teammate | Years | Races | Qualifying H2H |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Spence | 1964, 1965 | 3 | – |
| Jim Clark | 1964, 1965, 1967 | 5 | – |
| Jochen Rindt | 1966 | 1 | – |
| John Surtees | 1966 | 1 | – |
| Graham Hill | 1967, 1968 | 3 | – |
| Jackie Oliver | 1968 | 1 | – |
