Bernie Ecclestone wants a F1 street race in Cape Town
Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone says he wants to bring a street race to Cape Town, and is waiting for a local consortium to sign a contract.
Ecclestone told Primedia’s sports editor Jean Smyth that he thinks that a race will happen soon in South Africa. He said he wanted a local company to come in and ‘make it happen’.
“If somebody gets in front of me today with a pen, and wants to sign a contract, there could be a race next year.”
He said that another conversation, another meeting with a local consortium, however, is likely to produce very little result.
He said the idea he believes to be the most sensible for Cape Town is for a street race in Cape Town.
Someone needs to be in a position to make a commitment,” Ecclestone said. “We haven’t had anybody”.
“We would like to have a race in South Africa.”
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A Raconteur article puts the race-hosting fee for F1 at an average of around $33 million (R427 million).
The racing series F1 is the world’s most-watched annual sports series and last year had 425 million television viewers.
Igshaan Amlay, CEO of the Cape Town Grand Prix Bid Company told Talk 702 that he has spoken to Ecclestone and is focused on dealing with his requests including a buy in from the city of Cape Town.
He said negotiations would only follow thereafter. He said that a presentation would be taking place within the next few weeks. Amlay said he has been working on the process for several years.
He said that approximately R500 million would be required in order to host anF1 race in SA.
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