27 people died during the five years of the Carrera Panamericana, giving it one of the highest mortality rates per race in the history of motorsport.

After the Mexican section of the Pan-American Highway was completed in 1950, a nine-stage, six-day race across the country was organized by the Mexican government to celebrate and to attract international business.

During the 1952 event, German racing duo Kling and Klenk introduced innovative pre-prepared 'pace-notes' which allowed co-driver to relay direction to the driver at rapid speed. This system was so revoultionary that it is used in all motorsports involving a navigator today.