[imagesource: Kyalami Circuit]
Don’t pop the bubbly just yet.
But, and this is still a tentative but, it does look like South Africa is very much in the running to host a Grand Prix at Kyalami next year.
A report this week in Dutch outlet The Telegraaf went as far as to say that we’ve been added to next year’s schedule. The outlet states that Kyalami is part of 2023’s interim race programme.
All in all, via The Citizen, next season could feature 24 races:
Kyalami’s inclusion comes at the cost of the provisional exclusion of the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps and the much-criticised French Grand Prix at Paul Ricard.
Remaining, though, is the Monaco Grand Prix.
To reiterate, that is still unconfirmed via any form of official statement from Formula One authorities.
As a result, the necessary upgrades Kyalami Circuit will need to get FIA Grade 1 certification, meaning F1 can return to our shores, are still on ice.
Sport24 below:
While the background talks are ongoing, the Kyalami Management team is working hard to prepare the world-class facility to be F1-ready.
As it stands, the circuit is an FIA-accredited Grade 2 venue, but must bring about amendments to acquire Grade 1 status, making it F1 compliant.
A spokesperson for the Kyalami Circuit confirmed to Sport24: “To date, no Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit upgrades have commenced. As soon as details are clear, a statement will be issued to inform interested parties about matters relating to a Formula 1 event at Kyalami.”
Toby Venter, who bought the track in 2014 for R205 million, appears confident that we will get a South African Grand Prix in the not-too-distant future.
90 000 visitors are expected throughout the course of an F1 weekend so exit and entry points are important. Thankfully, Kyalami is sorted on this front:
Billie Venter, a member of the Kyalami management team, confirmed that the Kyalami Circuit has four entry and exit points…
“Kyalami utilises only one entrance and exit for ingress and egress because it’s the only point necessary at the moment,” Venter says. “There are three other entrances, granting easy ingress and egress, but these are not branded and billboarded.
“We have used these additional entry and exit points on occasion, so they are there and easily accessible. [Our] entry and exit points can easily accommodate the proposed crowd attendance.”
With a weekend pass slated to cost in excess of R5 000, and a first chance to host a GP in three decades, organisers will be hard at work to make sure every box is ticked.
The 2023 F1 season is rumoured to start on March 5. Sure, we’re still knee-deep in the 2022 season, but let the countdown begin.
