05/10/2004
NEWS STORY
As F1 heads further and further east, a group of South African businessmen is aiming to attract the sport back to Africa.
"The plans for the bid are far advanced," said David Grant, chief executive of the Omega Consortium. "We are now waiting for a response from the government to commit itself to the project."
South Africa hosted its first Formula One Grand Prix in 1962, at the East London track, the sport making its last visit to the country in 1993, when Kyalami staged the race.
The project, which is still in its early stages, has already ear-marked a site for a track, near Cape Town's international airport, though no details have been given as to who would design the track.
The announcement comes days after it was revealed that South Africa is one of the first franchisees of the new A1 Grand Prix series, with many predicting that a round of the championship will take place at Kyalami next year.