Belgian GP saved for 2023 after South Africa talks collapse

[erwin greven]

Belgian GP saved for 2023 after South Africa talks collapse

After talks for an imminent return to Kyalami collapsed this week, the Belgian Grand Prix has been granted a reprieve for another year, RacingNews365.com can reveal.

Hopes for a South African Grand Prix in 2023 have been dashed after a series of negotiations between Formula 1, the local race promoter and the owners of the Kyalami circuit broke down, RacingNews365.com can exclusively reveal.

Although Formula 1, owned by Liberty Media, is determined to stage a race in Africa, a new promoter is likely to be sought, with 2024 now the revised target date. The current promoter company, South African Grand Prix (Pty) Ltd, headed by Warren Scheckter – nephew of 1979 Ferrari world champion Jody, who is chairman of the company – has been informed of the decision, a source confirmed.

The decision means that the Belgian Grand Prix has been granted a reprieve for 2023, currently facing the axe after its contract expires this weekend, although RacingNews365.com understands that any further Grands Prix at the historic Spa-Francorchamps circuit will be contingent upon a rotational deal with another venue.

An announcement is expected this weekend, potentially as early as Saturday morning, with a provisional 2023 calendar (pending FIA ratification in October) subject to contract completion issued thereafter. The calendar is expected to list 24 races including a provisional Chinese Grand Prix, with the Belgian date back-to-backed with either the British Grand Prix in mid-July or with the Hungarian race later that month.

The major stumbling block for the 2023 race was a lack of tangible government support, with the South African Department of Tourism having been prepared to contribute via a special tourist levy but not issue guarantees.

Billionaire Patrice Motsepe, South Africa's richest man and President of the Confederation of African Football, initially held talks with SAGP with a view to funding the event on a loan basis, but the company was unable to meet the circuit lease conditions stipulated by Kyalami. Motsepe is the brother-in-law of South Africa's State President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Toby Venter, whose family trust controls Kyalami, has consistently stated that he would welcome a South African Grand Prix at the circuit, but "Not at any cost". He once pointed out to RacingNews365.com that every SAGP promoter had eventually fallen into liquidation…

Motorsport South Africa, the FIA's local sporting authority, had also expressed concerns about the compressed timeframe, pointing out that the country had not hosted a Grand Prix for 30 years. MSA President Anton Roux flew to the Austrian Grand Prix in July to discuss the situation.

Another stumbling block was that the South African circuit would require upgrades costing an estimated $15m to comply with FIA Grade 1 licence requirements. The tight timeframe for construction – an April date was targeted – combined with the promoter funding issues spelt an end to a 2023 race at the Highveld circuit which last hosted a Grand Prix in 1993, won by Alain Prost and Williams-Renault.

RacingNews365.com believes that a separate consortium is investigating taking on the project, potentially with funding from the Miami-based 777 investment company. A representative for the group, which acted as local promoter for Kyalami's Intercontinental GT Championship leg in February, is said to have visited F1 in London on Wednesday to open preliminary discussions.

https://racingnews365.com/belgian-gp-sa ... s-collapse

[XcraigX]

Sad for SA, but Yay for Belgium! Is there a world where we can have both? I'll take that one please.

[Everso Biggyballies]

Sad for SA, but Yay for Belgium! Is there a world where we can have both? I'll take that one please.

Hopefully China will become so Covid unfriendly Spa will replace that

[John]

At some point Liberty needs to understand that they can't axe every historic venue in place of yet another non descript street circuit.

[Everso Biggyballies]

At some point Liberty needs to understand that they can't axe every historic venue in place of yet another non descript street circuit.

Liberty seem to have more greed and fewer morals than Bernie ever did. Just sayin......

[MonteCristo]

At some point Liberty needs to understand that they can't axe every historic venue in place of yet another non descript street circuit.

Give them another 4-5 races .

[Star]

Yay!!!! Spa is and always has been my favourite track. No offense to South Africa, I don't know how good their circuit is but I am just happy not to lose Spa in favour of them!

Why do they want to get rid of the classic circuits that the fans and indeed the drivers enjoy so much? It makes no sense at all to me!

[Star]

At some point Liberty needs to understand that they can't axe every historic venue in place of yet another non descript street circuit.

Liberty seem to have more greed and fewer morals than Bernie ever did. Just sayin......

And believe me, that takes some doing

Bernie was up in court again the other day over his fraud case. I didn't hear what happened though.

[Everso Biggyballies]

Why do they want to get rid of the classic circuits that the fans and indeed the drivers enjoy so much? It makes no sense at all to me!

Sadly its down to $$$, with the likes of Spa relying on Sponsorship and private backing against these new Government back squillion dollar hosting fees they are prepared to pay.

That and the 'new more juvenile F1 fan doesnt understand the word tradition of history and seem to cherish the thought of racing down Sunset Strip, or believing the painted water and temporary marinas and beach settings for glamorous models to be just as good as Miami and all the hype.

To me Liberty need to balance things out a bit. By all means have a couple of ridiculous events like the Middle East and Miami etc but use the vast income they make from them to maybe offset the maintaining of less wealthy none Govt backed venues on the calendar. Sadly it seems the greed of the shareholders of Liberty cannot look farther than a glossy bottom line however it is arrived at.

Sacrificing a couple of million to maintain tradition and the hardcore fan does not seem to be their bottom line greed driven objectives.

Ultimately Liberty care not one little rat's bum about whether people actually go to races..... they are much happier to see people sat at home making payments to F1TV and the various pay TV broadcasters and driving their ratings up and along with it the value of the broadcasting rights they sell.
[/end old fart rant]

[Star]

Why do they want to get rid of the classic circuits that the fans and indeed the drivers enjoy so much? It makes no sense at all to me!

Sadly its down to $$$, with the likes of Spa relying on Sponsorship and private backing against these new Government back squillion dollar hosting fees they are prepared to pay.

That and the 'new more juvenile F1 fan doesnt understand the word tradition of history and seem to cherish the thought of racing down Sunset Strip, or believing the painted water and temporary marinas and beach settings for glamorous models to be just as good as Miami and all the hype.

To me Liberty need to balance things out a bit. By all means have a couple of ridiculous events like the Middle East and Miami etc but use the vast income they make from them to maybe offset the maintaining of less wealthy none Govt backed venues on the calendar. Sadly it seems the greed of the shareholders of Liberty cannot look farther than a glossy bottom line however it is arrived at.

Sacrificing a couple of million to maintain tradition and the hardcore fan does not seem to be their bottom line greed driven objectives.

Ultimately Liberty care not one little rat's bum about whether people actually go to races..... they are much happier to see people sat at home making payments to F1TV and the various pay TV broadcasters and driving their ratings up and along with it the value of the broadcasting rights they sell.
[/end old fart rant]

Sadly what you say is true. I mean, who cares about tradition and what the actual fans want to see? Who cares about good races on historic tracks? Apparently Liberty don't and that sucks.

F1 isn't a sport anymore, over the years it's become nothing more than a money making endeavour and that is so, so, so wrong

[Mawerick]

[erwin greven]

Spa saved for another year?? Or couple of years?

[Michael Ferner]

I'd rather have those cars back than that shitty track!

(Mind you, before the rebuild in the nineties Kyalami was quite superb!)

[erwin greven]

I'd rather have those cars back than that shitty track!

(Mind you, before the rebuild in the nineties Kyalami was quite superb!)

Did you watch the GT races there? Every race until now had been a massive success. Great racing. Instant favourite among GT race fans.

[Everso Biggyballies]

I'd rather have those cars back than that shitty track!

(Mind you, before the rebuild in the nineties Kyalami was quite superb!)

Did you watch the GT races there? Every race until now had been a massive success. Great racing. Instant favourite among GT race fans.

I have learnt @Michael Ferner has zero interest in any race car with either a roof or hidden wheels.