Cape Town Grand Prix gets huge boost

by Cheréne Pienaar on 15 September 2011

The Mother City will be the next Monaco in less than two years with our very own Grand Prix racing course being built.

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has said Cape Town could host a Grand Prix “within two years” – causing huge renewed excitement in the city.

In the past few years, three bids have emerged from Cape Town: one for a new track near the airport, a second on the West Coast near Atlantis and a third on Cape Town’s streets, in the style of the Monaco Grand Prix. The third bid, which would see cars zooming through Green Point, was believed to be the front-runner and won.

Estimates show that building a track could cost as much as R4 billion, however upgrading our existing infrastructure to FIA standards is estimated at around R100 million; making the track like the Monaco Grand Prix style circuit and therefore more feasible in South Africa, FLUX magazine reports.

Cape Town Grand Prix SA has now joined forces with Dave McGregor, who organised the 1992 and 1993 Formula One Grands Prix at Kyalami.

Cape Town Grand Prix was established in 2007, after eight years of research to bring Formula 1 back to South Africa, using a street circuit laid out around the Cape Town Stadium.

"This is a milestone in the bidding process; Dave and his team bring a wealth of motorsport experience to the table," founder and CEO Igshaan Amlay told iol on Tuesday.

McGregor commented: "The Cape Town Grand Prix concept not only makes economic sense in a South African context, but it does complete justice to the world-wide Formula One spectacle.Amlay said: Our vision is to develop the motorsport business sector, to benefit local business and generate media impact and growth in tourism, business and employment.

Go for a drive around the Green Point Stadium and get a feel for the race course. Who knows, you might become SA's very own Schumacher!

Cheréne Pienaar

Cheréne Pienaar Born and bred in Bloemfontein, this Free state gal is an obsessive reader and hiker and loves discovering... all the time. As an e-marketing assistant and copywriter she believes social media is the future and plans to conquer Africa one word at a time.

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