P1racenews AI automatic summary:
South African GP ‘approved’ as F1 track given green light
The South African government has approved a request to put in an official bid for Formula 1, potentially bringing the sport back to Africa after many years.
South Africa previously hosted races between 1967-1985 and in the early ’90s, but hasn’t been on the F1 calendar since then.
The Kyalami circuit near Johannesburg has been upgraded to FIA Grade 1 standards, indicating a possible return in the future.
The government is aiming to host a race at Kyalami in 2027, with a bid supported by the private sector for three years.
There are hurdles to overcome, as the F1 schedule is full and there are other new tracks vying for a place, but the desire to have an African race is strong within the F1 community.
Stefano Domenicali and Lewis Hamilton have both expressed interest in racing in Africa, making the potential return to South Africa a significant development in the F1 world.
