Kyalami and Apex teams met with Minister McKenzie and Premier Lesufi to outline plans for FIA Grade 1 accreditation
As negotiations with key stakeholders, including Formula 1 owners Liberty Media, progress, South Africans can be assured that Kyalami will be a fitting venue for the return of Formula 1.
Since 1961, when the first Formula 1 Grand Prix was hosted at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit, generations of spectators have flocked to the iconic circuit to cheer on their favourite racing driver.
However, since 1993, the enthusiasm for Formula 1 has been restricted to the parameters of a television screen for South African fans. Formula 1 and South Africa hit the headlines again when the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie met with the Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali at the Azerbaijan Formula 1 on September 1 this year.
Read more: Formula K puts the ‘race’ in Rotax racing
McKenzie noted that the country is ‘one step closer to bringing Formula 1 to South Africa’. He said he also had an extremely good meeting with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem in which they discussed support for the F1 bid.
The iconic Kyalami has taken proactive steps by engaging the services of Apex Circuit Design to prepare a roadmap for FIA Grade 1 accreditation, a requirement to host a modern Formula 1 event.
Apex is an award-winning motorsport engineering consultancy responsible for the design and delivery of the world’s best racetracks. With its rich history of Formula 1 events at the circuit, Kyalami is perfectly suited to host top-tier international motor racing events.
Also read: Formula-E to hit the streets of Cape Town this month
Sharing the ethos of creating an engaging spectator and participant experience, Kyalami and Apex are working together to prepare Kyalami for FIA Grade 1 accreditation. The Kyalami and Apex teams met with McKenzie to outline plans for FIA Grade 1 accreditation.
An enthusiastic McKenzie thanked Kyalami circuit owner Toby Venter for his continued service to South Africa through his vision and initiatives to create a desirable, suitable and realistic solution for aspirations to secure the return of Formula 1 to South Africa.
Kyalami management thanked McKenzie and Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi for their continued efforts to secure the return of Formula 1 to Africa. While negotiations with various role players, including Formula 1 owners, Liberty Media, continue tirelessly behind the scenes, South Africans can be rest assured that there will be a suitable home for the return of Formula 1 – Kyalami.
Follow us on our Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok pages. Join our WhatsApp group for any story ideas you may have.
Related article: Great team effort in Formula Ford at Silverstone
