‘My term will be a failure if I don’t get F1 here’ – Gayton vows to bring Formula 1 to South Africa
Seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton revealed last year that he was pushing for the sport to return to South Africa.
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Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie says he plans to bring back Formula 1 back to South Africa.
The Patriotic Alliance has stated that they are planning discussions with key stakeholders. He emphasised that his tenure as sports minister would be incomplete without bringing one of the world’s premier sporting events to South Africa.
Gayton McKenzie disclosed that the first meeting is scheduled for the end of August when Formula 1 returns after the summer break.
McKenzie to bring Formula One to South Africa in the next few years?
“I have set up meetings with relevant people already, my term will be a failure if I don’t bring one of the biggest sporting tourist events to South Africa which is F1. Our first meeting is end of August in Monaco,” he said in a tweet.
In recent years, it was speculated that F1 might return to the Kyalami racetrack replacing Spa, Belgium. According to reports, plans to have Formula 1 back to SA were cancelled due to the South African government’s diplomatic relations with Russia.
Seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton said his dream was to race in South Africa before he retires.
“I’m working in the background to get South Africa on the race [calendar].
“That’s like such a dream for me, I’ve got to stay until they get that race,” he said.
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali told Sky Sports said there was a possibility to bring a race to Africa and not just South Africa.
“We need to make sure when we do something new, that it has to be with the right partners and be stable fundamentals to stay longer.
“The only thing that I can say that after the first contact with Kyalami is that there are other places in Africa that are interested on Formula One.
“That’s a very clear target: Africa will come back and hopefully very soon on our calendar.”
The South African Grand Prix at Kyalami was once a regular event on the Formula 1 calendar but has not hosted a race since 1993.