David Coulthard: An African Grand Prix needs a permanent facility
THE last time a Formula One car powered at top speed through ‘The Kink’ was in 1993, and since then South Africans and the continent have been bereft of hosting any Grand Prix, much to the disappointment of many fans clamouring for a race.
That year, Alain Prost won the last GP on African soil when he guided his Williams to victory at Kyalami, in the north of Johannesburg.
An African Grand Prix remains conspicuously absent from the F1 calendar ever since, despite the paddock touring every other part of the world.
SA's been starved on anything F1 but we have something to look forward to
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Sebastian Vettel's RB7 is coming to Sandton, guys, in October ... 😳👀👀👀@IOLsport @TheStar_news #redbullshowrun #redbullshowrunjoburg #redbull #givesyouwiiings@redbullza pic.twitter.com/thSNI51bLJ
Post-Covid, there were major rumours that a GP would return to Africa after a 30-year absence, with Kyalami and Cape Town enjoying audible whispers, while Morocco and Rwanda have also been touted as possible hosts.
The murmurs were not unfounded, as it is understood that F1 owners Liberty Media desperately want a footprint on every continent.
Current Mercedes driver and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has also expressed a desire to race in Africa.
Elsewhere, Minister of Sport Gayton McKenzie has vowed to bring the sport back to SA, while MotoGP export Brad Binder revealed he would love to race in SA in the elite motorcycling category, too.
This week, Independent Newspapers had the opportunity to speak to former F1 driver David Coulthard regarding the upcoming Red Bull Showrun in Sandton next month, and what he believes will be required to attract F1 back to make landfall once again on African soil.
Said the Scotsman: “A custom-built facility is an asset for a local community and for motorsport generally.
“There is some talk that there could be a street race in Rwanda, and that certainly would be a showcase in that moment in time, as the whole world would be watching.
“The downside of a street race is that it doesn’t then get used by the community beyond the race weekend spectacle.
“Having a permanent facility gives you all sorts of business and development opportunities, including in the youth market and carting. A permanent facility is always going to be better, but obviously you need a promoter who is prepared to bring the event to that area.
“That is one of the big challenges, I guess – how governments decide to engage and spend their money.”
In that regard, Kyalami remains one of the best options to see F1 in Africa.
Previously, it was reported that the race track would have to undergo upgrades relating specifically to safety concerns to earn the necessary grading to host F1 and MotoGP.
Currently, Kyalami is a Grade 2 race track, but must be reclassified to Grade 1 for FIA purposes.
Coulthard, winner of 13 GPs and veteran of 247 races, will be in South Africa next month as the driver of the world championship-winning RB7 at the Red Bull Showrun around Katherine Street in Sandton.
Although his career started in 1994, and he therefore never raced at Kyalami, his assessment of the venue remained positive.
“Sadly,” said the 53-year-old, “I missed the (SA) races. I have, however, driven Kyalami in an F1 car, and it is a great circuit. It has elevation change and a lot of excitement.”
* For more on the Red Bull Showrun on October 6 in Sandton, visit www.redbull.com/za-en/events/red-bull-showrun-joburg