kyalami Formula One

Don’t celebrate prematurely, but there will reportedly be confirmation this week that SA will host a F1 Grand Prix at Kyalami in 2023. Photo: Gallo Images

Formula One takes a GIANT step closer to a return to SA – but NOT in Cape Town!

Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali has once again confirmed his desire to take the pinnacle of motorsport back to South Africa.

kyalami Formula One

Don’t celebrate prematurely, but there will reportedly be confirmation this week that SA will host a F1 Grand Prix at Kyalami in 2023. Photo: Gallo Images

Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali has once again confirmed his desire to take the pinnacle of motorsport back to South Africa “as soon as possible”.

READ | F1 TO RETURN TO SA? A TRIP DOWN PITLANE TO THE LAST RACE IN 1993

The last race in Mzansi took place at Kyalami in 1993.

Speaking to the New York Times, Domenicali said: “We have two options for a new race, and the most likely to hopefully happen soon is South Africa.

“It’s part of our agenda, and there is a commitment to see if this could be on the calendar as soon as possible.”

READ | FORMULA ONE’S SOUTH AFRICAN MEDICAL CAR DRIVER REPLACED FOR 2022 SEASON

As it stands, Cape Town is set to host a Formula E race in 2023.

Johannesburg, not Cape Town, to hold a Formula One race

Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei confirmed that Johannesburg is the likely host city.

“Johannesburg is definitely on our list,” said Maffei.

“You’d love to have one in Cape Town, but I’m not sure that’s doable, so Johannesburg is the more likely.”

READ | FORMULA ONE RETURNS TO THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OF LAS VEGAS AFTER 40 YEARS

However, before petrol heads in the country get too excited there are still several hurdles and potential stumbling blocks – mainly financial – to overcome.

Kyalami is a privately owned entity and is still not an FIA Grade One Circuit yet.

A FIA Grade One certification (it’s currently on FIA Grade Two) is required as well as a rather large sum of money to cover the hosting fee payable to Liberty Media – in the astronomical region of around $31m (roughly R500 million).

In addition, the renovations to achieve a FIA Grade One certificate won’t be cheap either.

READ | MARTIN BRUNDLE’S MIAMI GRAND PRIX GRID WALK SHOULD GO DOWN IN HISTORY – WATCH

And the best way to recoup all these costs? Through ticket prices.

Expect to shell out several thousands of rands to watch from a vantage point where you can actual see any of the cars!

A trip down memory lane

South Africa hasn’t hosted a Formula One grand prix since 1993, a full 29 years ago this season.

And that race was a memorable one!

Join us as we take a trip down memory lane.

The 1993 South African Grand Prix was held at Kyalami on 14 March 1993. It was the 33rd South African Grand Prix – and remains the most recent to have been staged on the African continent.

It was the first race of the 1993 F1 season and was contested over 72 laps.

The race was won from pole position by French legend Alain Prost driving a Williams-Renault.

Prost’s great rival, Brazilian Ayrton Senna, finished second in a McLaren-Ford, with Great Britain’s Mark Blundell in a Ligier-Renault rounding out the podium.

Incredibly, of the 26 starters, only five finished the race, although seven were classified.

Runner-up Senna was the only driver that winner Prost did not lap – surely an all-time Formula One record!

Points back in 1993 were awarded to the top six finishers (10, 6, 4, 3, 2, 1), meaning sixth-placed finisher, Ferrari’s Gerhard Berger, was awarded a point despite only completing 69 (of the 72 laps) before retiring with engine failure.

Among the other household names to have taken part were Michael Schumacher, Damon Hill, Jean Alesi, Rubens Barrichello, Riccardo Patrese, Michael Andretti and current F1 Sky Sports commentator, Martin Brundle.