Plans have remerged for a possible Formula 1 return to South Africa, with World Cup host city Cape Town named as a candidate for a street race which would involve the cars travelling through the stadium in which semi-finals were played prior to the Spanish football team’s ultimate success in July.
Hopes for a South Africa comeback have been on the cards for several years although more concrete plans have now emerged for a potentially thrilling spectacle in Cape Town. The project is being led by the Cape Town Grand Prix Bid Company, which is highly keen to meet with Formula One Management’s Bernie Ecclestone.
“We have made significant progress with Ecclestone,” company spokesperson Esther Henderson told the wheels24 website on Wednesday. “We have an invitation from his office.
“Back in 2009, his office said he would like to meet us but unfortunately our national government was focused on the World Cup. But the 2010 World Cup has now allowed Ecclestone to evaluate a major event in South Africa and we hope to secure a meeting with him before the Grand Prix season.”
In 2010, talk was also on the cards for a possible return to former South African Grand Prix host venue Kyalami, although Ecclestone quickly called off the possibility. However, chances of a Cape Town debut now appear more possible.
“It would be along the coast, with the city's magnificent landmarks,” Henderson added. “It would be an iconic location for a TV broadcast, a very sexy location. It's about staging a show that's entertaining and the best of its kind and we believe it would fit Ecclestone's plans for F1.”
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