Formula 1’s return to Africa is more likely to happen in 2023 than next season, according to the CEO of a company looking to revive the world championship round at Kyalami.
Warren Scheckter, CEO of SAGP, told RaceFans the former home of the South African Grand Prix was the “most logical place” for F1 to race at. Kyalami held its last grand prix in 1993.Scheckter, nephew of 1979 world champion Jody Scheckter who is chairman of the board at SAGP, said the South African venue requires little work to bring it up to modern F1 standards. Kyalami was last renovated in 2015.
Formula 1 planned to hold a Fan Festival in Johannesburg last March, but the pandemic forced its cancellation. However president and CEO Stefano Domenicali this month reiterated the sport’s desire to return to the African continent, saying expressions of interest had been received from promoters in “north Africa [and] South Africa”.
While a race could take place in the 2022 F1 season, Scheckter believes the following year is a more realistic option. “The target date is still 2022 but that could shift due to the effects of the pandemic, so 2023 is maybe more likely,” he said.
The race would likely enjoy the support of seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton, who said last year Africa is “such an important place” for Formula 1 to return to.
“It’s great that Lewis, a person as high-profile and influential as himself, has indicated his support for an African Grand Prix,” said Scheckter. “Obviously South Africa is the most likely place for that to happen being that it’s a country that has a huge history in Formula 1. It had its own Formula 1 racing series back in the seventies, had a Formula 1 world champion itself and as a country it has quite a big following.
“Most importantly it has a race track that’s really ready to go, that’s very close to being F1-standard. If there were to be an African Grand Prix, South Africa and Kyalami is the most logical place that it would happen.
“It’s great that Lewis is showing his support for an African Grand Prix. An African Grand Prix is going to be a huge boost for bringing diversity to the sport at all levels.”
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Aleš Norský
20th February 2021, 12:31
Great news!
Gusmaia
20th February 2021, 13:04
“the South African venue requires little work to bring it up to modern F1 standards. Kyalami was last renovated in 2015.”
Considering the amount of alterations required on tracks currently in use since 2015, this means that the SA circuit will essentially have to be rebuilt from scratch.
Dieter Rencken (@dieterrencken)
20th February 2021, 20:38
Not true – the FIA undertook an assessment in May 2019 (I was there at the time) and few upgrades would be required, mainly some run-off areas.
ZenaRacer
21st February 2021, 22:17
You clearly have no idea to what standard Kyalami has been rebuilt to The track is READY NOW
Simon
22nd February 2021, 23:12
https://bit.ly/37Gb8vL
Jere (@jerejj)
20th February 2021, 13:30
One current track might have to make room for Kyalami should South Africa ever return to F1.
Dave
20th February 2021, 16:43
I guess it will be Sochi.
Jere (@jerejj)
20th February 2021, 18:08
@Dave Unlikely because it’s one of the most lucrative ones in F1. Sochi, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, and co. are places that are never under threat as long as the respective countries/governments, etc., are willing to pay F1 big bucks for their events.
A European track would more likely face the sacrification should the situation in question arise.
Francesco Piea (@franco)
21st February 2021, 7:31
If there’s one European track that’s got to go, my guess would be Zandvoort.
BasCB (@bascb)
21st February 2021, 13:35
Since Zandvoort is new, they are almost certainly on a 5 year deal @franco. Which means they will be on the calendar until about 2026 if not longer.
Barcelona is still on a short term deal, I think. Not sure for how long Spa has on their contract, but many of the tracks prolongued their deals in recent years.
StephenH
20th February 2021, 13:47
Don’t Tilke-ize Kyalami please. Do whatever work you need to the barriers, buildings and runoffs, but please, please, please leave the layout alone.
Just once.
Klon (@)
20th February 2021, 14:28
Why? The current Kyalami layout is a dreadful and boring mess. Which is why I am not happy about this news, because it is quite likely that there will not be any major changes.
Dave
20th February 2021, 15:47
At least it wasn’t Tilke who redesigned it.
ZenaRacer
21st February 2021, 22:20
Luckily this is your opinion and yours alone…. Nothing wrong with the new kyalami budd.
Roger Ayles (@roger-ayles)
20th February 2021, 14:48
If it was the old Kyalami it would be interesting but I think the layout that was used when F1 raced there in 1992/93 was quite poor (As was the racing) & I think the most recent alterations made it even less interesting.
And if they were to modify it further to make it ‘suitable for F1’ they would likely just ruin it further by making it even less interesting & just as much a cookie cutter circuit as all the other most recent circuits & alterations which are all far too samey in characteristics.
It’s just a shame we can’t have challenging circuits again that simply follow the terrain rather than having to be built for the more recent obsession only on overtaking at the expense of everything else which has sadly only resulted in circuits looking/feeling very samey & lacking the challenge you get from many of the classic circuits/layouts.
You go back say 20-25+ years & you would have a 16/17 race season where each circuit had it’s own character, It’s only look & feel which made each circuit offer a unique set of challenges. Now you have 20+ which are all far too samey & don’t challenge car or driver as much as was the case in the past which is a shame.
ZenaRacer
21st February 2021, 22:24
The new kyalami is better than the old one would ever hope to be.. From 9 corners, the new one now has 16 corners and where F1 lapped the old one inb1985 in just under one minute it is going to take some balls for F1 2022 to lap the current circuit in under 1min. 15secs
Holmzini
20th February 2021, 15:23
With too many viable Grand Prix circuits available now what makes this circuit worthy of an F1 return ?? How about a story line about what is actually new and improved at the circuit. I find it hard to believe unless things are much improved there. F1 moved away from this place as formula one out grew it. So why now. There must be a butt load of changes now complete for this bottom of the world track.
But then there is the matter of other legit new modern racing facilities also wanting the opportunity like Kyalami. So how is it possible this SA racetrack even under consideration let alone preaching about a 2023 return. I’m skeptical about the reality of this happening. Who knows what has happened at Kyalami to give this idea it’s moment in the sun???
ZenaRacer
21st February 2021, 22:27
You clearly know zip zero about kyalami, its heratige and judt what has gone into reviving this true to motorsport circuit. As for under world how about you get off your high horse and thanks the lord the choice to bring F1 to Kyalami will not be yours so basta bro
ryanoceros666
20th February 2021, 15:35
Why did F1 leave South Africa after apartheid ended?
Darryn Smith (@darryn)
20th February 2021, 17:35
It left before it ended and then came back in 92/93.
ryanoceros666
21st February 2021, 2:23
Yeah I know why they left after 85 but can’t find the reason 93 was the last season.
Willem Cecchi (@)
21st February 2021, 8:23
I think the promotor ran out of money.
Jason Blankenship (@jblank)
20th February 2021, 15:48
Considering the positions and actions of the South African government towards the white farmers, F1 should stay far away from that place until their policies change.
Mark (@saffaracerr)
20th February 2021, 16:54
Oh please. The white farmers in South Africa are the target of the same policies and actions as the rest of the South Africans in the country. There is no specific exception that makes them targeted any worse than people in other areas in the country. Farm attacks are always brought up as the primary example, however crime is a problem almost EVERYWHERE in the country. Try living in
Alex or one of the smaller rural townships. Crime is way worse there than white farmers as a group will ever experience.
How would I know? I live in South Africa, am a white farmer and live next to one of these locations.
Jason Blankenship (@jblank)
20th February 2021, 17:15
I don’t believe you in the slightest. I’ve read enough news reports and seen enough documentaries to know exactly how biased the SA gov’t is towards the white farmers, many of whom have actually had to band together to keep their families safe. The rapes, the murders, it’s a travesty and the ruling government ignores it or even tells the people to leave.
They should leave and let the place devolve into the cesspool it’s becoming.
ZenaRacer
21st February 2021, 22:31
Luckily it is your UNINFORMED and MISINFORMED opinion so please stay the hell where ever it is you stay and start watching waltdisney replays as u know buggerall about sa and its politics
ferrox glideh (@ferrox-glideh)
12th March 2021, 14:49
Do you mean that you’ve been watching Fox News on repeat again? This sounds like some of their propaganda.
Fritz
20th February 2021, 18:22
DarrenSmith The english did far worse during the Anglo boer war killing woman and children in concentration camps. Than South Africa during apartheid. Dont advertise how little you know.
Calum
20th February 2021, 16:14
There hasn’t been any African Grand Prix in my lifetime. Would Morocco also be a candidate for a future African Grand Prix I wonder?
Red Andy (@red-andy)
20th February 2021, 16:31
I think when Domenicali mentioned north Africa, Morocco would be the most likely candidate, as it already has the ePrix – although the Marrakech circuit would not be suitable for F1 so you would either need another street circuit or a purpose-built facility somewhere.
I visited Morocco about 10 years ago and had a walk around the Ain-Diab area of Casablanca, where the original Moroccan Grand Prix was held in the 1950s. Hard to tell where the course ran exactly, apart from the stretch along the seafront.
greenzebragpr
20th February 2021, 20:01
The Ain-Diab circuit was fully integrated into the city’s road network after its closure, so it’s entirely possible for one to drive a full lap of the circuit’s layout in a road car.
armando
20th February 2021, 20:27
east london is good circit near ocean,,,, but i never understand why kyalami destroyed, that orginal down hil straight is now there houses why, old kyalami was fast and great 1970-1985 92 1993 is this kyalami is very chalenging track ,but not fast,,,, an diab in morroco also 1 grand prix there ,,,,i want argentina in calendar
Griffin
20th February 2021, 21:17
F1 will never have a circuit like the old Kyalami again, most unfortunately. But I absolutely hope they return in ’22. It’s a matter of venue rather than track layout – South Africa was a fantastic stop for F1, it always seemed to produce positive response from both the circus & the locals. And the current layout isn’t all that bad – I think the race in ’93 was pretty fun, actually – and the most recent circuit mods (turns 1-3) should improve the racing for F1 (even though, yes, these changes are in the direction of the “samey” modern circuits). So long as it doesn’t come at the expense of a classic F1 venue, I really hope this happens!
Cjmashego24
21st February 2021, 23:03
Kyalami needs more stands for more seating.. I noticed it doesn’t have a large seating are. I mean I don’t mind sitting on the grass viewing the race with the beautiful backdrop of Midrand and Sandton, but I can see it being a problem for others.