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13 Jul 2004, 11:50 (Ref:1035213) | #1 | ||
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Kyalami circuit sold.
Another evocative name from the F1 past has been sold.
The Kyalami racing circuit, home of the South African Grand Prix for many years, has been sold for $7.1m. The new owners are a consortium of businessmen including both businessmen and property developers. It is expected that the circuit will continue to be managed by the new owners but that other parts of the facility will be redeveloped. Hopefully it will continue as a race track. "The preservation of Kyalami as a world-renowned motorsport icon is of paramount importance to us.," says Mike Fogg. "At the same time we intend developing the property as a unique home for all facets of motoring, from the sport through to the retailing of motor vehicles. The track will remain central to the motoring theme." http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns13233.html Incidentally the last World Championship Grand Prix was held at Kyalami in 1993, won by Prost in a Williams-Renault. Some history on Kyalami. http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/cir-069.html |
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13 Jul 2004, 11:54 (Ref:1035218) | #2 | ||
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Hopefully we will get a Grand Prix there again some day! Africa has no GP at all ...
cmon Bernie!! |
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13 Jul 2004, 12:02 (Ref:1035231) | #3 | |
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Oh thank God, i almost thought it had been sold back to the government for housing developments...
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13 Jul 2004, 13:27 (Ref:1035361) | #4 | ||
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I hope they dig it up........
and rebuild the old track |
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13 Jul 2004, 13:47 (Ref:1035387) | #5 | ||
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Having had the pleasure of marshalling at Kyalami a few times I hope they do manage to hold onto the race track and not lose it to housing. It would be a crying shame if South Africa were to lose that part of their heritage.
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13 Jul 2004, 14:11 (Ref:1035429) | #6 | ||
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As Africa has so few race tracks, it seems important to keep it, but as mentioned the old layout was much better (as always....)
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13 Jul 2004, 15:57 (Ref:1035542) | #7 | ||
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However I think that, to be grand-style relanuched, it needs to host at least one very important event, like an F1 race.
Let's hope F1 global development won't only focus on Asia. |
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13 Jul 2004, 17:10 (Ref:1035607) | #8 | ||
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Would love to see Grand Prix racing back in South Africa. Kyalami is a good little track. Sure, the old was better, but the new one isn't too bad either... Usually put on some good WSB races when it visited.
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13 Jul 2004, 18:47 (Ref:1035694) | #9 | |
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Good news that the track is safe.
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13 Jul 2004, 19:02 (Ref:1035713) | #10 | ||
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It does seem odd that F1, and other large, world sporting events were once held in South Afica during aparthied, but now that it no longer exists, they seem to be largely ignored on the world sporting stage. Strange...
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14 Jul 2004, 07:12 (Ref:1036090) | #11 | ||
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There were plans to stage a GP at Kyalami not too many years ago when Mandela first came to power. The sponsorship was all oined up (Vodacom) but, the weak Rand and the escalation in violence were the main factors for the race not going ahead.
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14 Jul 2004, 23:17 (Ref:1036864) | #12 | ||
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Kyalami is pretty much out for hosting a GP and, as far as I know, so is South Africa, but what alternatives are there?
Are they any remotely sensible alternatives in SA nowadays? |
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15 Jul 2004, 00:52 (Ref:1036891) | #13 | |||
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Quote:
Maybe a CC fan would know more... |
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15 Jul 2004, 05:57 (Ref:1036974) | #14 | ||
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Quote:
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15 Jul 2004, 07:21 (Ref:1037015) | #15 | ||
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There is the track at Welkom which Moto-GP go to. ... also Champcar or Indycar were looking at going to Durban on a street track? I am not sure what happened to that?
If London wants to do it why cant SA |
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Local Track: Aldo Scribante What sort of motorist are you... Smooth or Hairy I'm definitely hairy. |
15 Jul 2004, 09:08 (Ref:1037078) | #16 | ||
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