South Africa Moves Closer To Hosting Formula One Race
Toby Venter, owner of the Kyalami Grand Prix circuit near Johannesburg, said on Wednesday that plans to upgrade the track to Formula One standards had been approved by the controlling body. He told reporters the venue that last hosted a F1 race in 1993 had been given the green light by the International Automobile Federation (FIA) to implement design proposals. "Today, we turn the page to a bold new chapter for Kyalami. We are ready for the return of Formula One to African soil," 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 Africa.
"The acceptance by the FIA of our grade one design is a major step forward in that journey," added Venter, an importer of luxury vehicles.
Kyalami and Cape Town in South Africa, Rwanda and Morocco have expressed interest in bringing F1 racing back to Africa.
The British company charged with doing the upgrades said they were "minor", and could be completed within three months. FIA has given Kyalami a three-year deadline for completion.
Upgrades, which will not change the 4.5 kilometre (2.8 miles) circuit layout, include enhancing run-off areas and barriers.
"The proposed FIA grade one upgrade focuses on enhancing run-off areas, barrier systems, debris fencing, kerbs, and drainage," a company spokesman said.
"This is a light-touch upgrade in engineering terms, but one that enhances the already excellent circuit standards to meet modern grade one requirements."
More spectator zones and grandstands have also been earmarked as part of a bigger upgrade, leaving Kyalami as the only grade one certified venue in Africa.
Kyalami has hosted 21 F1 Grands Prix, the last in 1993 won by Alain Prost for Williams. The annual event was discontinued because it proved too costly for the then owners to host.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Wimbledon Wildcards 2025: Who decides and why they matter
Wimbledon Wildcards 2025: Who decides and why they matter (Image via Getty) Every year at Wimbledon, some players enter the tournament without going through the usual process. They don't qualify directly. They didn't win a qualifying match either. Still, they get a chance to play. But how do these players get in? Who decides? And why are these 'wildcard' entries so special? The answer involves big names, old champions, and secret selections. Goran Ivanisevic made history with a wildcard in 2001 In 2001 Goran Ivanisevic, Croatian tennis star, was rated globally. Number 125. He did not automatically qualify for Wimbledon that year. He received, though, a wildcard from the All England Lawn Tennis Club, the organization in charge of Wimbledon. Then winning the men's singles championship, Ivanisevic stunned the world. This was the first time a male wildcard won Wimbledon. Still regarded as among the most unexpected and poignant tennis victories is his tale. Serena Williams and Venus Williams won Doubles titles with Wildcards American sisters Serena Williams and Venus Williams received wildcard invitations in 2000 and once more in 2009 to compete in women's doubles at Wimbledon. They both won the competition. London's renowned Wimbledon courts hosted these tournaments. Even though they were already famous in singles, they were not originally entered in doubles. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like One of the Most Successful Investors of All Time, Warren Buffett, Recommends: 5 Books for Turning... Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Click Here Undo But the wildcard gave them a chance — and they used it to win. This shows how wildcards are often given to strong players who fans want to see again. Andy Murray and Jamie Murray got a wildcard in 2024 British siblings Andy Murray and Jamie Murray were given wildcard entry to Wimbledon's men's doubles in July 2024. Following an injury, Andy, two-time Wimbledon singles winner, was returning. Hoping to allow admirers to see him once more at his home event, the wildcard was seen as a gift from the All England Club. Regrettably, the Murrays were defeated in the first round. Still, their arrival changed British tennis. How the Wimbledon Wildcard decision Is made Wimbledon has been giving wildcards since 1977. A group at the All England Lawn Tennis Club decides who gets them. They look at a player's past performance, especially at Wimbledon, injury history, and sometimes give chances to local British players. Since 2003, some wildcard places in singles are also given through play-off tournaments, usually held in the UK. These matches help the committee pick deserving players. Jonathan Marray and Frederik Nielsen were the last Wildcard Champions Frederik Nielsen of Denmark and British player Jonathan Marray claimed the Wimbledon men's doubles crown in 2012. They were wild card nominees. Their victory in the contest at the All England Club left everyone surprised. Wildcard players won a championship at Wimbledon this time around. Also Read: Petra Kvitova Returns To Wimbledon; Awarded Wild Card; Only Non-British Player Selected Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Hindustan Times
5 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Ex-NFL player Ramzee Robinson sues Chiefs for wrongful termination, racial discrimination
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A former NFL defensive back is suing the Kansas City Chiefs for wrongful termination from his job as director of player engagement after accusing the franchise of discriminating against him because he is Black. Ramzee Robinson, who spent nine years with the Chiefs, filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri on Sunday. In the lawsuit, Robinson claims that he was called into a meeting in February and accused of attacking a female co-worker, and that Chiefs refused to show him security video of the encounter. Robinson ultimately was fired from his position, which involved locker room management, mentorship and other responsibilities within the team. The lawsuit claims that Robinson was paid a salary of $125,000 by the Chiefs, but that his research found other NFL teams paid comparable positions an average salary of $171,932, not including other benefits. It also claims that "the Chiefs paid African-American business employees less than their white counterparts.' Chiefs spokesman Brad Gee told The Associated Press on Wednesday that while he could not comment on pending legal matters, 'to be clear, the Chiefs do not tolerate discrimination of any kind." 'We look forward to the facts of this case coming to light,' Gee said. The 41-year-old Robinson was the final player chosen in the 2007 draft by Detroit. He played in 19 games over two seasons for the Lions, then appeared in three games for Philadelphia and four for Cleveland in 2009. He never played for the Chiefs. /hub/nfl
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
Stakeholders to set aside 1% to boost natural diamonds
Surat: In a landmark move to boost the appeal of natural diamonds across the globe, top natural diamond mining, manufacturing and marketing players signed the Luanda Accord on Wednesday, in Luanda, the capital of Angola. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Stakeholders jointly agreed to contribute the equivalent of 1% of annual revenues from rough diamond sales to a collective marketing initiative. Under pressure due to conflicts between countries, slowing economies and shifting consumer preferences towards lab-grown diamonds, the natural diamond trade is taking various measures to stabilize the market. After a significant drop in the global diamond business, industry leaders are joining hands to secure the industry's interests. This is a significant development for Surat and India. Eight lakh people are employed in the diamond manufacturing industry in the city, while seven lakh more work in the gems and jewellery sector in other cities of the country. The agreement was signed by the governments of Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia, South Africa, officials of India's Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council, Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC), Dubai Multi Commodities Centre and De Beers Group. The 1% contribution will be channelled through the Natural Diamond Council (NDC), which will take the lead in designing and executing a global generic marketing strategy aimed at enhancing consumer awareness and demand for natural diamonds. "Implementation details, including the mechanisms for making these contributions, will be finalized after legal review. Each participating govt will work in coordination with industry representatives to establish suitable arrangements for contributions in their respective jurisdictions," said an official present at the meeting. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The agreement included that, to ensure transparency and alignment with contributor interests, the governance structure of the NDC will undergo a review. Annual assessments of both financial contributions and the impact of marketing campaigns will be conducted by NDC members. "The Luanda Accord marks a fundamental shift in the way our industry comes together to protect and promote the future of natural diamonds. As the world's largest diamond manufacturing centre, India is proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with African producer nations and global partners," said Shaunak Parikh, vice-chairman, GJEPC. "A unified global marketing push is no longer optional — it's essential. GJEPC remains deeply committed to this shared vision and is ready to contribute actively to the next chapter of sustainable growth for our industry," Parikh added. "The signing of the Luanda Accord marks a historic moment of unity in our industry. After a year of collaboration with African diamond-producing nations and global partners like the GJEPC and DMCC, we've committed to collectively fund and promote natural diamonds. This is a powerful step toward a stronger, more sustainable future for our industry — and I'm proud of the leadership role the AWDC played in making it happen," said Ravi Bhansali, vice-president, AWDC.
