Red Bull ambassador and 13-time Grand Prix winner David Coulthard has declared that the Kyalami circuit in South Africa is ready to return to the Formula 1 calendar.
Coulthard recently piloted Sebastian Vettel‘s 2011 title-winning Red Bull RB7 machine around the iconic Kyalami circuit.
Kyalami last hosted F1 for the 1993 South African Grand Prix, but the series has;t returned to the African continent since.
That is something that F1 is looking to change and after his demo run, Coulthard was adamant Kylami “is ready” to return to the Grand Prix calendar.
“Driving the RB7 here at Kyalami was unforgettable,” he said.
“With the energy of the South African people and Kyalami’s world-class track, it’s clear the country is ready to rejoin the F1 calendar.”
South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Art and Culture Gayton McKenzie is determined to make good on Coulthard’s claims.
McKenzie recently told LalliesF1 that “F1 is definitely coming [to South Africa].
“F1 told us they’re keen to come, they told us what they’ll need to come, and we are going to give them what they need to come.”
However, South Africa isn’t alone in trying to attract F1 to the African continent with talks ramping up between Stefano Domenicali and representatives in Rwanda.
Amid all this, Lewis Hamilton has said “the current excuse,” not to bring F1 to Africa is that “maybe there’s not a track that is ready.”
In addition, Hamilton dismissed that reasoning, saying “but there is at least one track that’s ready [Kyalami].”
READ MORE – South Africa determined to see through F1 return
