Last Sunday, we were invited to attend the Festival of Motoring at Kyalami. As part of the programme, I enjoyed a ‘hot lap’ around the track. Although I was in a regular, stock standard, road-going vehicle (albeit with an ex-race driver at the helm), the thrill was incredible. I can only imagine what it must feel like in a racing car. Even as a spectator, watching the cars go around the track was incredible, the noise was deafening and the vibe was electric.

Can you imagine a real Grand Prix at Kyalami? Well, that’s definitely on the cards. While 2023 was rumoured, according to the articles below 2024 is more likely. Or perhaps it will be 2025. Whenever it is, I will definitely make every effort to be there.

Let’s take a look at some of the recent news articles and try piece together when and if Formula 1 may come to Kyalami.

Not 2023, Maybe 2024?

WTF1.COM (https://wtf1.com/post/spa-hopes-improve-for-2023-as-kyalami-return-looks-set-to-be-delayed/)

It looks as if the likelihood of the Belgian Grand Prix remaining on the calendar for 2023 has become even higher as the revival of the South African Grand Prix looks set to be delayed.  

The Kyalami circuit has long been a target for F1’s current expansion out of Europe and was originally thought to be making its return to the F1 calendar in 2023.

Spa, controversially, looked at risk of dropping from the calendar as European races continue to be cut to make way for new ones.

While F1 is still yet to release the official calendar for 2023, as negotiations are dragging on, the chances of Kyalami being ready for the 2023 season are getting thinner – as F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali hinted to when speaking to media, including The Race, this week.

“I always say we want to have a race in Africa, and today the most likely place to have a race in Africa is South Africa.”

“Discussions are going on. When we’re talking to new promoters we’re looking for a very clear and solid long-term commitment, because we cannot be there for one year and then ‘game over’.

“It’s a situation that is taking time. I think we are going to clarify this situation in the next days, but for sure the commitment to be in Africa is something we want to take.

“But we want to take it right. That’s why the evolution of the calendar will defined in the next couple of weeks maximum.”

“I read some comment saying Belgium will be the last year – I would be prudent on that comment,” added Domenicali.

“With Belgium the discussions are still on.”

Kyalami Needs FIA Grade 1 Certification

2OceansVibe.com (https://www.2oceansvibe.com/2022/06/17/heres-what-kyalami-needs-to-do-for-f1-certification/):

Kyalami Circuit owner Toby Venter, who bought the track in 2014 for R205 million, remains confident we can get a South African Formula One Grand Prix in the not-too-distant future, but there are a few boxes to tick.

The circuit will need to get FIA Grade 1 certification before F1 can return to our shores. The visit of F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali this week shows the desire is there from the sport’s governing body to make that happen, either in 2023 or 2024.

Details of exactly what was said during Domenicali’s visit are being kept out of the public eye. Venter has spoken with Sport24 on a few key matters, starting with getting the track F1 status:

“We’ve been through this exercise [requirements for getting Grade 1 certification] and received a comprehensive list of requested changes, and it boils down to [a few] things,” Venter confirmed to Sport24.

“…tech-pro barriers need to be installed at certain corners around the track, the sausage curbs must be modified and adjusted to make it F1 friendly, and the gravel in some run-off areas must be replaced with tar. The venue must also be upgraded to accommodate the expected weekend attendees.”

90 000 visitors would be expected throughout the course of an F1 weekend, Warren Scheckter, founder and CEO of the South African Grand Prix Association, said.

The above changes wouldn’t come cheap. However, it’s worth noting that the track itself is up to scratch:

“Stefano Domenicali actually loves the track,” Venter adds. “I took him around the track myself, and he is very excited and enthusiastic about the track layout as it stands.”

And We Need Government Support

CAR Magazine (https://www.carmag.co.za/news/belgian-gp-saved-for-2023-after-sa-f1-talks-collapse-2za/)

What stopped the South African GP from happening?

The main impediment to the 2023 race was a lack of tangible government support. The South African Department of Tourism was willing to contribute through a special tourist levy but unwilling to issue guarantees.

Patrice Motsepe, South Africa’s richest man and President of the Confederation of African Football, initially discussed loan funding for the event with SAGP. Still, the company could not meet the circuit lease conditions stipulated by Kyalami.

Toby Venter, whose family trust owns Kyalami, has stated repeatedly that a South African Grand Prix would be welcome but “Not at any cost.” He once told RacingNews365.com that every SAGP promoter eventually went bankrupt or into liquidation.

Motorsport South Africa, the FIA’s local sporting authority, had also expressed concerns about the shortened timeframe, citing the country’s lack of a Grand Prix in 30 years. MSA President Anton Roux flew to Austria in July to discuss the situation.

Another stumbling block was that the South African circuit would require $15 million in upgrades to meet FIA Grade 1 license requirements. The short construction timeframe and promoter funding issues ended a potential 2023 race. Kyalami last hosted a Grand Prix in 1993, which was won by Alain Prost.

According to RacingNews365.com, a separate consortium is looking into taking on the project, possibly with funding from the Miami-based 777 investment firm. On Wednesday, a representative from the group, which served as the local promoter for Kyalami’s Intercontinental GT Championship leg in February, is said to have visited F1 in London to begin preliminary talks.