Table of Contents
- South Africa Formula 1 campaign bid brought a wave of great news for motorsports fans in the South.
- South Africa is finally getting closer to its long-held dream of hosting this event after decades of waiting
- It’s been 31 years since the country hosted an F1 event
South Africa Formula 1 campaign bid brought a wave of great news for motorsports fans in the South.
Calls to the Federale Internationale del’Automobile (FIA), F1’s governing body, to allow Africa to host Grand Prix are intensifying by the day.
South Africa is finally getting closer to its long-held dream of hosting this event after decades of waiting.
This is just about to change with recent developments in South Africa’s bid.
It’s been 31 years since the country hosted an F1 event. The last South African Grand Prix was seen on March 14, 1993.
Fans have been lobbying for decades for the return of South African Grand Prix.
Is South Africa Formula 1 Bid Successful?
F1 car. Photo/ PlanetF1.
Latest developments in F1 point to a successful South Africa Formula 1 campaign. The FIA, on June 18, gave a nod to the upgraded design of the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit.
According to the FIA regulations, all grand prix circuits must attain Grade 1 status as a precondition to hosting the F1 Grand Prix.
South African officials behind the F1 campaign explained in a press statement on Sunday what the Kyalami Circuit upgrade involves.
The FIA will then work on adding the country to the F1 calendar after hosting rights are granted.
Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit Upgrade
The statement indicated that there will be no design change to the 4.5km circuit following its renovation in 2016.
However, the approved design by the FIA focuses on safety and drainage. They will work on installing a run-off area, kerbs, debris fencing and barriers.
South Africa Grand Prix at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit. Photo/YouTube TotalF1
Toby Venter, the owner of Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit termed FIA’s approval a major milestone for South Africa’s motorsports industry.
Venter said the recent South Africa Formula 1 upgrade approval by the FIA is a positive pointer to bigger and greater things for the country’s motorsports sector.
South Africa now has three years to have all approved upgrades in place. Details of the developments indicate that the Apex Circuit Design, an engineering firm based in the UK, developed Kyalami’s upgrade design presented to the FIA.
Apex is the same firm that designed the Miami Grand Prix Circuit. The firm’s CEO Olive Bowen termed the upgrades in Kyalami as ‘light’ but eventually transforming the face of the entire Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit.
Once complete, the circuit will attain a modern look, ready for the next phase of hosting the South Africa Grand Prix for the first time in 31 years.
Return of F1 in Africa
The recent FIA upgrade approval is a result of a sustained push by the South African government led by Zizi Kodwa, the country’s Minister for Sport, Arts and Culture.
Kodwa expressed confidence in South Africa hosting the Formula 1 Grand Prix, noting that they have the infrastructure in place and an audience to set the ball rolling.
Before things hit a snag in 1993, South Africa had hosted a series of F1 events from 1979, during which legendary F1 driver Jody Scheckter won the F1 World Championship title.
