Ecclestone wishes for a return of F1 to South Africa
Bernie Ecclestone would like to see F1 return to Africa, and this could involve the return of the South African Grand Prix to the F1 world championship calendar, despite several unsuccessful attempts in recent years.
The world of Formula 1 has not returned to the African continent – and a victory from a certain Alain Prost on the Kyalami circuit – since 1993. This is something Bernie Ecclestone wants to remedy, despite attempts that have remained unsuccessful so far. Meanwhile, other countries have entered the F1 calendar, such as Bahrain, China, Russia, and South Korea, and others have made a return, like Austria this year and Mexico next year.
Four years ago, F1 could have made its return to South Africa in Cape Town, but the city council vetoed it due to noise concerns. Since then, the V6 Turbo engines introduced this season are considered less noisy. An option that might be favored is the return of F1 to Kyalami, but for now, the circuit needs to be renovated. The most likely option would be a race through the streets of one of South Africa’s main cities.
« We are trying to do something in South Africa. We used to have a race there and it would be nice to return to that part of the world, » Ecclestone told the Russian news agency R-Sport.
During the 2014 season, an F1 car made its return to South Africa, but far from Cape Town. It was a Ferrari, with Marc Gene performing a demonstration near the Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg. The Spanish driver took the wheel of a 2009 F60 around a 1.48 km track in front of a large crowd.
