FIA/F1 delegation set to visit Kyalami GP circuit to review progress
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Formula One at the moment is operating with the objective of taking the sport to all corners of the world and in their bid to do so, a delegation of FIA/F1 is set to visit the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit in South Africa this week.
Talks between the administration at Kyalami and the FIA have been taking place for quite some time and the delegation that is heading to South Africa comprises F1 Sporting Director Steve Nielsen, Craig Wilson, F1 Head of Vehicle of Performance, and Richard Springett, F1 Principal Engineer – Circuit Engineering.
The FIA’s Head of Circuit and Rally Safety, Stuart Robertson, is going to inspect Kyalami’s eligibility for a Grade 1 (Formula One) license today as the circuit currently satisfies the Grade 2 standards, and the common belief at the moment is that the track requires a huge upgrade in order to get to the level at which Formula One operates.
The circuit requires asphalting of 50,000 meters of runoff area that is currently gravel and some of the corners require reprofiling. Moreover, access to the team garage area is extremely restricted. The medical helicopter is quite close to the team garages and as per FIA, it needs to be moved to a place where it is not in the sight of the media and the fans.
The area behind the team garages is too small for team hospitality and all the issues at the circuit can be fixed but require a decent amount of investment.
A source has recently revealed that the circuit upgrades are going to cost ” Between four and six million dollars, depending upon exactly what needs to be done. But the problem is time: It is now almost August and they’re targeting an April date.”
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Race at the Kyalami Circuit is clouded with a lot of uncertainties
The circuit requires a decent number of upgrades and at the moment no one is sure as to who is going to pay. Kyalami owner, Toby Venter has many times stressed that he is open to renting the circuit to a promoter willing to stage the F1 race, but not at any cost.
At the moment no one is certain as to which party is going to cover the costs given that the circuit is fully booked throughout the year. In order to stage an F1 event, the circuit would require closing for a considerable time and this would mean that the venue would lose out on a lot of business. Moreover, the South African government has also refused to get directly involved with the event.
The SA stakeholders are worried as no deals are in place yet and the SA motorsports Chairman has recently told the media that “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 finalizing matters within weeks and making a subsequent announcement.”
Given the shenanigans that are taking place around staging a race at the Kyalami Circuit, one has to wonder whether the parties involved would be able to come to an agreement regarding all the things and from where the money is going to come from to upgrade the circuit facilities to the level of Formula One.
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Rishabh Negi
(3244 Articles Published)