F1 and FIA inspections visit Kyalami Circuit in South Africa

Formula 1 and the FIA ​​are inspecting the Kyalami Circuit earlier this week as part of ongoing negotiations to get the South African Grand Prix back on the World Cup calendar.

According to RacingNews365, Formula 1 sporting director Steve Nielsen, as well as engineers Craig Wilson and Richard Springett visited the track on Monday. On Tuesday, the visit is scheduled for Stuart Robertson, responsible for circuit safety in the FIA. The aim of the inspections is to find out what needs to be done in Kyalami so that the circuit can receive Grade 1 certification, allowing it to host Formula 1 races.

The track is currently Grade 2 licensed and requires some upgrades. First of all, we are talking about the need to harden and expand the gravel safety zones, adjust the configuration of various turns, move the helipad and make some changes to the paddock area and boxes.

According to unofficial information, the reconstruction is estimated at $4-6 million, and the final investment will depend on the specific recommendations of Formula 1 and the FIA. At the same time, one of the problems is related to the fact that there is less and less time left for the implementation of such a project. According to an anonymous insider, “It’s almost August and they’re aiming for a race in April.”

Financing could raise even more serious questions: Toby Venter, the track owner, would like to see the South African Grand Prix return to Kyalami, but is unwilling to pay any money for it. It is not yet clear who will bear the costs of the reconstruction, despite the South African government’s refusal to participate directly in the project to host the Formula 1 race.

At the same time, all related pre-agreements are only informal in nature and no documents have yet been signed. An interesting detail: Against the background of rumors about the possible return of the Grand Prix, fake tickets for the race have already appeared on sale in South Africa.

However, negotiations are underway, most notably Anton Roux, president of South Africa’s national motorsport federation, visited the Austrian Grand Prix last week where he met FIA president Mohammed bin Sulayem and Stefano Domenicali, chief executive of the Formula 1.

In order to place the South African stage on the calendar of the 2023 season, according to RacingNews365, all necessary agreements must have been made by the end of July, including all financial guarantees.

Journalists familiar with the true state of affairs suggest that it would be more realistic to postpone the Kyalami race until 2024 and abandon the traditional and beloved Belgian Grand Prix next season. They say it was the stage in South Africa that should have taken the place of the race in Spa on the calendar, and it also depends on the results of the negotiations with South Africa whether the Belgian stage will be next year or not.