F1 News: Kyalami upgrades approved, but still far short of money needed to host F1

(GMM) Former F1 venue Kyalami has leapt into pole position to take Formula 1 back to the African continent, but the race won’t happen without financial support from the government.

The sport is clearly keen to complete a true ‘world’ championship calendar by reintegrating the only missing continent on the current 24-race schedule.

However, many names have been linked with a future African GP, including Cape Town, Rwanda, and even Morocco and Zanzibar.

But former South African GP host Kyalami, located just north of Johannesburg and having staged no less than 21 F1 races until 1993, has just had its plans for F1-ready FIA ‘Grade 1’ certification approved.

An artistic impression of the Kyalami Grand Prix circuit hosting an F1 race with new stands and hospitality areas around the track. Picture: Supplied

Currently, the circuit has FIA Grade 2 status, [but has been reconfigured from the once great layout to make passing near impossible]

In a statement, the venue announced that it has “received confirmation that the FIA has accepted final design proposals to upgrade the circuit to Grade 1 status – the highest international standard required to host Formula 1.

“Once the capital works are completed and a final inspection conducted, Kyalami will become Africa’s only FIA Grade 1 circuit, capable of hosting Formula 1 on the African continent.”

Circuit owner Toby Venter said in a press conference: “This is a defining moment for South African motorsport.”

He said very little work needs to be done to achieve the Grade 1 rubber-stamp, describing it as a “light-touch upgrade”.

The statement continued that the FIA has given Kyalami three years to complete the upgrades.

Venter added: “Today, we turn the page to a bold new chapter for Kyalami. We are ready for the return of Formula 1 to African soil.”

The current Kyalami circuit configuration would feature almost zero passing

Not so fast

Kyalami Grand Prix circuit owner Toby Venter stopped short of predicting a date for F1’s big return, saying that “government needs to engage with Formula One to make it happen like they do all over the world”. This, according to the Kyalami boss, is something that is required in addition to the Bid Steering Committee set up by Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie, which must consider bids for the F1 race.

“The Bid Steering Committee is doing its work and we can’t speak on its behalf. But unfortunately, for this to go forward government has to engage a Formula One map,” said Venter.

“That has not happened yet. Other countries have taken the lead around the world, where the government has paid a deposit to Formula One management in entering a memorandum of understanding. We are waiting for government to play its part.”