Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali is visiting the Kyalami circuit in South Africa today for talks over adding the venue to the 2023 calendar.
Kyalami last held a round of the world championship in 1993. The circuit north of Johannesburg has been renovated within the last 10 years.
It does not currently hold an FIA grade one certificate necessary to holds grands prix. However, the grade two standard track should need relatively little work to bring it up to F1 standards, and the circuit layout itself is unlikely to require alterations.
Kyalami was a fixture on the F1 calendar between 1967 and 1985. However, several teams refused to attend the final race, and many sponsors withdrew, due to growing concerns over racing in the country under Apartheid. F1 returned to a heavily revised circuit for two further races in 1992 and 1993, but hasn’t raced in the continent of Africa since.
Lewis Hamilton has repeatedly urged F1 to return to Africa, which is the only inhabited continent lacking a round on the current calendar. After the championship confirmed its return Las Vegas two months ago, Hamilton said: “The one I really, really want to see is South Africa. That’s the one I want to hear next that gets announced.”
Next year’s calendar could include as many as 24 races if South Africa is added and F1 returns to China. The race in Shanghai has not been held since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Pictures: Kyalami
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2023 F1 season
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