 Grand Prix Circuit (2015–present) | |
| Location | Midrand, Gauteng, South Africa |
|---|---|
| Time zone | SAST (UTC+02:00) |
| Coordinates | 25°59′53″S28°4′08″E / 25.99806°S 28.06889°E /-25.99806; 28.06889 |
| Capacity | 100,000 |
| FIA Grade | 2 |
| Owner | Toby Venter (2014–present) |
| Broke ground | 1961 |
| Opened | 4 November 1961; 63 years ago (1961-11-04)[1] |
| Major events | Current: Kyalami 9 Hours (1958–1979, 1981–1984, 1986–1988, 1998–2000, 2019–2020, 2022–present) Former: Intercontinental GT Challenge (2019–2020, 2022–2023) Formula One South African Grand Prix (1967–1985, 1992–1993) Grand Prix motorcycle racing South African motorcycle Grand Prix (1983–1985, 1992) World SBK (1998–2002, 2009–2010) Sidecar World Championship (2000, 2002) A1 Grand Prix (2009) Superstars Series (2009–2010) Grand Prix Masters (2005) World Sportscar Championship (1974, 1983–1984) |
| Website | kyalamigrandprixcircuit.com |
| Grand Prix Circuit (2015–present) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 4.529 km (2.814 miles) |
| Turns | 16 |
| Race lap record | 1:40.303 ( Jonathan Thomas, Nova Proto 2, 2024 Kyalami 9 Hour) |
| Grand Prix Circuit (1992–1993 and 2009–2015) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 4.261 km (2.648 miles) |
| Turns | 13 |
| Race lap record | 1:17.578 ( Nigel Mansell,Williams FW14B,1992,F1) |
| Grand Prix Circuit (1994–2009) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 4.2606 km (2.647 miles) |
| Turns | 13 |
| Race lap record | 1:28.306 ( Fairuz Fauzy,A1GP Ferrari,2009,A1 GP) |
| Grand Prix Circuit (1989–1991) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 3.888 km (2.416 miles) |
| Turns | 11 |
| Race lap record | 1:30.660 ( Roland Asch,Mercedes 190E 2.5-16 Evo2, 1990,Group A) |
| Original Grand Prix Circuit (1961–1988) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 4.104 km (2.550 miles) |
| Turns | 9 |
| Race lap record | 1:08.149 ( Keke Rosberg,Williams FW10,1985,F1) |
Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit (fromKhaya lami,My home inZulu) is a 4.529 km (2.814 mi) motor racing circuit located inMidrand,Gauteng,South Africa, just north ofJohannesburg. The circuit has been used forGrand Prix andFormula One races and has hosted theSouth African Grand Prix twenty times. Among theFormula One races held at the track the1977 South African Grand Prix stands out, as it is principally remembered for the fatal accident that claimed the lives of race marshal Frederick Jansen van Vuuren and driverTom Pryce. In recent years, the area surrounding the circuit has developed into a residential and commercial suburb ofJohannesburg. More recently, Kyalami has played host to five rounds of theSuperbike World Championship from 1998 to 2002 and later in 2009 and 2010, the season finale of theSuperstars Series in 2009 and 2010, and the South African round of the2008–09 A1 Grand Prix season. International racing returned to the circuit in November 2019, when it hosted the2019 Kyalami 9 Hours, serving as the season finale of the2019 Intercontinental GT Challenge.
The original, sweeping circuit was designed and cleared by Harry Pierce and Dick Bremner along with a few friends and workers in the mid-1950s. The two were also responsible for the hosting and housing of early race teams that ventured to Africa to try out the new track with Bremner being the chairman of the South African Automotive Racing Association. Its first major international event was in1961 until political sanctions (due toapartheid policies) eliminated theGrand Prix after the1985 race.[2]
The clockwise track layout was based on a long straight with nine corners that had their naming inspired by a mix of local geography, South African cultural elements, and racing terminology. A lap started in close to the pit lane entrance on theMain Straight - a straight that lead downhill into the first bend.[3]
When the circuit was rebuilt in the early 1990s as part of a commercial development, Leeukop Bend, the Kink, Pit lane, the start/finish straight, Crowthorne Corner and Barbecue Bend were all eliminated. Jukskei Sweep was heavily modified to create the entrance into the bend before the then newly built Pit lane and start/finish straight. The remaining part of the old fast circuit, modified to a lesser degree were Sunset Bend, Clubhouse Bend and the Esses still incorporated into the current configuration, with the result that the circuit became a narrow, twisty ribbon rather than one of the fastest circuits on the calendar. Formula One abandoned the rebuilt circuit in1993 after just two races on the new layout, caused by a bankruptcy on the part of the promoter.
It hosted theSouth African motorcycle Grand Prix until 1992.
Kyalami was changed again with the building of the current pit lane and start/finish straight and later again changes were made, with the addition of a chicane which in turn was removed again for the 2009 World Superbike race.[5] Kyalami came under new management and 2008 saw the 50th anniversary of the 9-hour revival being held at Kyalami with golden oldies likeDavid Piper and others.[6] On 6 June 2014, it was announced that Kyalami would be auctioned off on 24 July without reserve.[7] On 24 July 2014, it was auctioned off for R205 million. The winning bidder wasToby Venter, owner ofPorsche South Africa.[8] R100 million was invested to upgrade the circuit, allowing it to successfully obtain anFIA Grade 2 status.[9]
On 12 December 2019, the provisional calendar for the2020–21 FIA World Endurance Championship was announced, containing a six-hour race at Kyalami scheduled for 6 February 2021.[10] However, after the calendar was revised due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, Kyalami was removed.[11][12]
From1967 to1993, Kyalami hosted 21 editions of the South African Grand Prix. Perhaps the most infamous of these was the1982 edition, when theGrand Prix Drivers' Association staged astrike in protest of newsuperlicence conditions imposed byFISA.
Niki Lauda became the most successful driver at Kyalami, taking his third victory at the circuit in1984.Alain Prost,Nigel Mansell andJackie Stewart are the joint second-most successful drivers at the circuit, with two wins each.Jody Scheckter became the first and only South African driver to win their home race during the1975 edition.Ferrari andWilliams are the most successful constructors at the circuit, with four wins each.
In June 2022 it was reported thatStefano Domenicali, the President of Formula One, had flown to South Africa to meet representatives of the circuit about a possible return for F1 in 2023, but was not included in the 2023 provisional calendar.[13]
As of August 2023, the fastest official race lap records of the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit are listed as:
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