South Africa’s Kyalami Circuit receives Approval for Upgrade to F1 Standards

The Kyalami Grand Prix circuit in South Africa has revealed that plans to upgrade the track to Formula 1 standards, have been approved by the sports governing body, the FIA.

Toby Venter, the owner of the race track near Johannesburg stated that the track has been given the green light by the FIA to implement design proposals.

The company charged with carrying the upgrades stated the changes to the 4.5 kilometre track layout were minor, and could be completed in three month, with the FIA has giving Kyalami a three-year deadline for completion.

“We turn the page to a bold new chapter for Kyalami. We are ready for the return of Formula One to African soil,” Venter said.

“When we acquired Kyalami in 2014, we made a commitment to restore it, not just as a world-class venue, but as a beacon for motorsport across Africa.

“The acceptance by the FIA of our grade one design is a major step forward in that journey.”

The upgrades include enhancing run-off areas and barriers while more spectator zones and grandstands have been earmarked as part of a bigger adjustments.

Kyalami is the only grade one certified venue in Africa. It has hosted 21 F1 Grands Prix, with the last one taking place in 1993 and won by Alain Prost in the Williams.

Other places that have expressed interest in hosting an F1 race in Africa include the South African city of Cape Town. The countries of Rwanda and Morocco have also laid out plans.