Formula One (F1) motor racing may be returning to South Africa as government and the sport’s authorities in Abu Dhabi in upcoming months, Cape {town} Etc reports.
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Sports, Arts, and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie and Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille are scheduled to meet with the various motor racing authorities in Abu Dhabi, probably later this year, in an attempt to bring the sport back to the country.
McKenzie announced on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) last month that he met with Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA/International Automobile Federation) president Mohamed Ben Sulayem and had fruitful discussions about the future of F1 racing in South Africa.
I had a extremely good meeting with President Mohammed Ben SULAYEM of @fia, we discussed recognising spinning, support for our F1 bid and more inclusion for underprivileged ppl in different motorsport. I left the meeting highly impressed with President Mohammed Ben SULAYEM. pic.twitter.com/rHaYTeNsGx
— Gayton McKenzie (@GaytonMcK) September 15, 2024
‘We discussed recognising spinning, support for our F1 bid, and more inclusion for underprivileged people in different motorsports. I left the meeting highly impressed with President Mohammed Ben Sulayem,’ McKenzie posted.
According to Bloomberg, De Lille stated on Friday that the event’s potential to increase the country’s tourism revenue meant Cabinet approval would be easy to obtain.
‘The authorities are considering using a portion of the Tourism Ministry’s infrastructure budget to develop facilities that would be needed to support the event,’ De Lille told Bloomberg.
‘Such a project would have to get Cabinet approval,’ she said.
South Africa lost its ambition to host a Formula One event last year because of its close relations to Russia.
Following Russia’s invasion and subsequent war against Ukraine, F1 abandoned the Russian Grand Prix, and the motorsport governing body, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), imposed a blanket ban on Russian and Belarussian participation unless they signed a neutrality agreement.
Formula One racing has been absent in South Africa since 1993, with the last race, the 33rd edition, held at Kyalami Race Track in the north of Johannesburg.
The race was won by French driver Alain Prost, driving for Williams-Renault, with the late great Ayrton Senna (Brazil) in second and Mark Blundell (United Kingdom) in third place.
Also read:
South Africa loses bid to host Formula 1 due to relationship with Russia
Picture: Gayton McKenzie/x
