F1 used to race in South Africa at the Kyalami race track. The last time F1 was in Africa was in 1993 but in recent weeks and months, Liberty Media has made it a priority to return to Africa. It wanted a mix of classic races, something that has happened with the return to Zandvoort and Imola but also new places like Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and now even Miami in 2022. In 2023 Las Vegas is also being added. With all these races being cemented, now the focus is on a return to Africa and Kyalami is in pole position but this will not happen immediately. Kyalami needs to be upgraded to be an FIA Grade 1 status track and this is not bound to happen before 2024.
Kyalami has hosted international motorsports through the remainder of the 1990s and 2000s, and the quality of the circuit has deteriorated in recent years. But then Porsche South Africa CEO Toby Venter bought the track in 2014 and since then it has been redesigned which includes an extended start-finish straight but this redevelopment only granted it FIA Grade 2 status. For grade 1 status it needs extra run-off areas and tec pro barriers.
The last time there was an F1 race in Africa was at Kyalami in 1993
"On top of America, on top of China, I think there is a potential also to be in Africa soon. There is a lot of interest there. For sure that's another area that so far is missing in the geography of our calendar," said F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali in March.
It also helps that 7-time world champion Lewis Hamilton who is the only black driver in the history of the sport has been lobbying for a return to Africa. Complicating matters for Liberty Media is its mooted return to China with the race in Shanghai being proposed for 2023 but the renewal of hard lockdowns in Shanghai thanks to another variant of the coronavirus is the issue. This could open up a window for Kyalami.
