South African Grand Prix: Government not at fault in failed bid

The owners of the Kyalami circuit have moved to quash rumours that a lack of government support was behind the failed bid for the South African Grand Prix to return in 2023.

Organisers are still hopeful of getting the circuit added to the 2024 calender with F1 and the FIA said to still be keen to see the South African Grand Prix make its return.

ALSO WATCH: Ride along on a lap of the Kyalami circuit

Promoter blamed for failed South African Grand Prix bid

According to Motorsport SA chairman Anton Roux the failure of the bid was down to a lack of financial guarantees from the local promoter.

Roux laid the blame for the failure at the feet of the SA Grand Prix Association led by Warren Scheckter.

“The reason the F1 event is not taking place in 2023 is that the F1-appointed local promoter was unable to deliver on the financial guarantees,” Roux told News24.

“The whole issue here is not a fault of the FIA, F1, MSA, or government’s side. It was purely because the local promoter could not deliver. And we now need to replace the local promoter. But I am very confident that we’ll be on the 2024 calendar.”

Roux insists that work is ongoing to ensure that the South African Grand Prix makes its long awaited return to the schedule of the elite motorsport series.

Kyalami is key

He believes that hosting the South African Grand Prix would be a huge boost to motorsport in general in the country.

“We need to create more sporting heroes for our children to follow, and I think that will be the big benefit to South African motorsport,” he added.

“The guys must see a Lewis Hamilton or a Max Verstappen so that they can relate to it. We need to create aspiration.”

Organisers have been keen to stress the strengths of Kyalami and South Africa as a host.

He believes TV will prove key ins securing the return of Kyalami to F1.

“Another advantage we have in South Africa is that we’re in the same time zone as the Europeans,” Roux noted. 

“So, from a television viewer point of view, it slots in with where the biggest viewership is.”