Comments on: Formula 1’s lost nations: South Africa

By: Anthony

Anthony — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 20:57:48 +0000

South Africa is not a poor as we think. They successfully staged the football World Cup. I also believe that private sponsors would be the way forward for staging F1 in South Africa.

By: Fixy

Fixy — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:37:17 +0000

Also, I like Kyalami more than any other track!

By: Anthony Lewis

Anthony Lewis — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:44:03 +0000

As an avid F1 fan, I am amazed and frustrated that nowhere on the African continent is F 1 racing staged. F1 racing is a world sport, staged in Asia, the Americas, the Middle East, throughout Europe and soon to be in India and next year the USA. My argument is that F1 cannot be judged as a “world sport” unless it is also staged somewhere on the African continent, the second largest continent in the world yet totally forgotten by the rest of the world.

I believe that South African, is the only country on the African continent, at the moment, which has the finances, infrastructure, technology and supporters to successfully stage F1. South Africa has successfully staged the Rugby World Cup and the Football World Cup. Staging a F1 race in South Africa would bring huge revenues and permanent jobs to South Africans. In addition, it would also help in increasing the profile of South Africa as a leading nation on the worldwide political and sporting stage and bring new fans to the sport.

By: acmeerkat

acmeerkat — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 17:13:38 +0000

Well with South Africa as it is after the FIFA World Cup, I believe that they can do this. Definitely a country with a lot of proud residents that will give their all to make it the best F1 year after year if they were just given a try.

Good luck South Africa and hope to see F1 return to SA sooner rather than later, we are ready for this.

By: gideon

gideon — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 11:22:37 +0000

i want the east london track back in f1 view on sea waves, cold summer breeze jim clark always love that track but whole stupid f1 loves asia tracks africa is only continent who dont have f1 think that f1 never back in east london or africa if he ever back maybe thay bernie said let drive just one more street circiut around johhanesburg . i hope that someone answer me i am wrong

By: Joao

Joao — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 21:23:13 +0000

This sucker is scamming people on EBAY, have been waiting for the return of my money for a long time

By: George

George — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 07:49:49 +0000

Scheckter drove a smart campaign and out-scored team mate Gilles Villeneuve, who eventually had to play the role of back-up driver and let Scheckter take the title

It’s widely accepted that Giles did a deal with Enzo to allow Jody to win the championship in exchange for the No.1 driver status in Ferrari when he left.

To say that Jody out-scored him is, (while true) a little unfair to the memory of one of the most loved, admired and respected F1 drivers of all time.

By: Neil Craig

Neil Craig — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 11:19:23 +0000

All this talks of costs to host a GP gives me an opportunity to voice a concern I have about how Bernie runs the sport. I simply cannot see how a venue has to fork out millions to host an event and yet Bernie decides who gets the TV rights, which branding may appear around the track. It is absurd.

Instead, tracks should apply to host a race and if deemed sufficiently equipped and of a decent standard. In return Bernie gets to decide on the track side branding & TV rights.

Bernie is often praised for the fact that he brought the manufacturers into F1, but he killed of the privateers. More manufacturers would be able to enter the sport & more countries would be host races if costs are lower.

Bernie, you’re the 8th richest person in the world. I guess that should be enough….

By: Chaz

Chaz — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 12:40:27 +0000

@ Gman – thanks for your insights. For some reason (and I wish I could say why, perhaps I read it somewhere), I have it in my head that Mozambique used to host motor racing events which were quite successful, so much so that many used to call it the ‘Monaco of Africa’. Perhaps it was another high profile series of racing and I’ve got it confused or wrongly assumed it was F1…

By: martinb

martinb — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 10:39:50 +0000

As a South African I would love to see F1 return. The last race I saw had Jim Clark and Trevor Taylor dominating the Cape Grand Prix in Coopers that looked like biplanes, so that was a while ago. (The wings were placed high up to be in the clean airflow, and transmitted forces direct to the suspension. Later this arrangement was ruled to be dangerous and the current wing placements became mandatory.)

As has been said above, it’s all about the money. Not much of that around these days. At least South Africa is in the same time zone as Europe so no night race gimmickry is required. Also, I would like to see the Grand Prix in Cape Town at sea level. Kyalami is slower because they lose about 10% power due to the altitude.