FIA approves Kyalami's final upgrade design for potential Formula 1 return
Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit has moved a step closer to hosting a Formula 1 Grand Prix after motorsport's governing body, the FIA, approved final design proposals to upgrade the venue to grade 1 status.
The grade 1 classification is a prerequisite for any circuit wishing to host a Formula 1 event. Once the planned upgrades are completed and the circuit passes a final inspection, Kyalami would become the only FIA grade 1 circuit on the African continent.
At a media briefing on Wednesday, circuit owner Toby Venter and Clive Bowen, founder and director of UK-based Apex Circuit Design, outlined the five-year process that led to FIA approval. Apex, a well-known circuit design firm, also worked on the layout for the Miami Grand Prix.
'This is a defining moment for South African motorsport,' said Venter.
'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 the African continent. The FIA's acceptance of our grade 1 design is a major step forward in that journey.'
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