Formula 1 and the FIA will soon visit Kyalami as discussions regarding a possible return of the South African Grand Prix on the Formula 1 calendar are currently underway.
Formula 1 Sporting Director Steve Nielsen, Craig Wilson, F1 Head of Vehicle of Performance and Richard Springett, F1 Principal Engineer – Circuit Engineering are among the ones that will visit the track for facility and circuit checks this week.
The FIA’s Head of Circuit and Rally Safety, Stuart Robertson, will have the task of evaluating Kyalami’s eligibility for a Grade 1 (F1) licence on Tuesday. The circuit currently complies with Grade 2 standards and is needs significant upgrading to meet the higher standard, including asphalting over 50,000 square metres of runoff areas, currently gravel.
At the same time, several turns will certainly require reprofiling and their runoff areas extended, while team garage access is too restricted according to the current Formula 1 standards. Based on FIA rules, the medical heliport has to be moved some distance away from the paddock, in order not to be visible to the prying eyes and TV cameras.
The area behind the garages seems to be too small for team hospitality and administration. These are not problems that cannot be fixed, but cost money to upgrade and change.
Despite the fact that Kyalami would not share any specific details, some estimations show that “between four and six million dollars are needed, depending upon exactly what has to be completed. But the problem is time: It is now almost August and they’re targeting an April date.”
Of greater concern is the funding of any upgrades: Kyalami’s owner, Toby Venter, has confirmed that he is fully in favour of returning Formula 1 to the Highveld circuit by renting the track to a promoter willing to stage the race, but not at any cost.
SA Grand Prix (Pty) Ltd, headed by Warren Scheckter, nephew of 1979 World Champion Jody who is chairman of the company, holds a tentative agreement with F1 to promote a Grand Prix, but does not currently hold a contract with Kyalami.
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It is not as yet known what party would pay for the costs of the changes, taking into consideration the fact that the track is fully booked during the year and the majority of upgrades would be Formula 1 specific, while the work required could result in the track being closed during the upgrade programme – with subsequent loss of business for the venue. At the same time, the South African government refuses to be directly involved with the Formula 1 race.
Furthermore, off greater concern to SA stakeholders is that no deals are in place yet, with Motorsport SA chairman Anton Roux late last week telling SA media outlets: “While all parties are in [verbal] agreement and are pushing hard to get a deal together, no legally binding agreements have yet been signed. We are hopeful of finalising matters within weeks and making a subsequent announcement.”
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