A few weeks ago we reported on the possibility of Kyalami hosting a Grand Prix in 2024 after the rumours of a possible 2023 GP were quashed. Well, it now seems possible that SA may get a 2024 Grand Prix, but not where you would expect.

The story and pictures below is by Michele Lupini from TheAuto.Page (https://theauto.page/sport/soweto-south-african-grand-prix-scoop/)

Is a Soweto Grand Prix rising from the Kyalami bid ashes?

Following many failed bids to return South Africa to the Grand Prix fold 30 years later, a more serious effort to bring the race to Kyalami finally appeared on the cards for 2023. Yet despite F1 boss Stefano Domenicali recently visiting that country in an effort to facilitate a deal, it seems that power struggles, infighting and the blame game have scuppered that attempt too.

Domenicali has more recently been quoted as saying that there are other F1 opportunities in Africa. That has led some eager scribes to jump to suggest a possible race elsewhere on the continent. Now it appears that there may very well be life left in a renewed South African Grand Prix in Johannesburg after all. Not at Kyalami, but rather in Soweto, half an hour’s drive to the south.

A 2024 NELSON MANDELA GP BID IS IMMINENT

Touted as a possible Nelson Mandela Grand Prix, it is understood that an announcement regarding a 2024 Soweto Grand Prix of South Africa is imminent. A source allegedly close to a conglomerate of highly influential South African businessmen committed to bringing F1 back, has suggested that the mooted race will happen at the Nasrec showgrounds. Adjacent to the FNB Stadium, which hosted the opening and final games at the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup in South Africa and within walking distance of Soweto.

Arguably the biggest event in Africa since the New Millennium, the World Cup proved an unqualified success. Not least that it included Soweto, the historic township south of Johannesburg so steeped in African heritage, among other previously disadvantaged areas, as central to its accomplishments. Now a new South African Grand Prix bid group intends to pick up on those World Cup highs and bring Formula 1 to Soweto from 2024.

A rudimentary leaked map reveals a planned street circuit in and around the Nasrec national showgrounds. Most of the track traverses the facility’s service roads, often used as a popular tarmac rally stage over the years. The planned track also appears to utilise much of the state of the art showground facility’s infrastructure Nasrec is already well proven through its ability to house many major exhibitions. Let alone so splendidly accommodate the 94,000 spectators attending World Cup matches there.

The Nasrec site is serviced by train and bus services and has parking for 10,000 cars. Nasrec also boasts state of the art medical and fire facilities, and even has its own power plant. To alleviate South Africa’s present power grid challenges.

The bid company intends to empower the people of Soweto to take ownership of their own Grand Prix. In the spirit of Nelson Mandela. Part of the plan is for visitors to stay in Soweto and the South of Johannesburg. And to enjoy the hospitality, entertainment and the African vibe of Vilakazi Street and its parties. Rather than only in the north and Sandton, as was always the norm.

Local employment is also high on the agenda. There are plans to empower 20,000 young and unemployed Sowetans through incubative opportunities around their own Grand Prix. Promoting future business thinking is central to grassroots initiatives to foster growth in Soweto around an annual F1 visit.

SOUTH AFRICA HAS A PROUD GRAND PRIX HISTORY

The South African Grand Prix goes back to the first race in East London in 1934. The race featured Richard Seaman; Bernd Rosemeyer, Bernd von Delius and the mighty Auto Union Silver Arrows. And Piero Taruffi amongst the Maseratis over the years through to 1939.

The South African Grand Prix returned to East London in 1960 and soon became part of the F1 World Championship. The SAGP then shifted up to Kyalami in 1967, where it stayed until 1985. It returned to the new Kyalami in 1992 and ’93. South Africa also uniquely had its own Formula 1 championship from 1960 to ’75. And an annual mini-series of international F1 around the championship GP every year.

Calls have been growing for Formula 1’s return to South Africa over recent years. It is seen that an African Grand Prix is essential to complete F1’s ‘international’ status. Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen have led increasing calls for an African race.

SOWETO IS A NATURAL MONUMENT

Soweto is a natural monument to the country’s war against apartheid. The Soweto riots fueled by Hector Petersen’s death are considered the keys to South Africa’s democracy. Nelson Mandela, Bishop Desmond Tutu and many South African icons lived in Soweto. Mandela both before and after his incarceration, where he thrived among among so many local businessmen, politicians, sports personalities who still call Soweto their home.

Considering the runaway success of South Africa’s Soweto-based 2010 World Cup Soccer tournament, the prospect of a Soweto Grand Prix can only be considered beyond exciting. Watch this space!