|
F1 GP plan for Cape Town shapes up |
|
|
|
F1 GP plan for Cape Town shapes up
September 15, 2005
By Henri du Plessis
A Formula 1 GP in Cape Town in 2009 could be a real proposition by
year-end if sufficient private backing can be found to bring the
beautiful design to life.
There's a graphic of the track at the bottom of this story.
The SA GP Bid Company claims to have secured 90% of the funding needed
and is confident it can be sewn up in time to sign an agreement with F1
boss Bernie Ecclestone.
"It's ours to lose," said David Gant, head of the bid company. "I have
written expressions of support from the ministries of sport and of
trade and industry which undertake to help in any way to get finance
and operational structures in place
'The cost of the track has been professionally estimated at R500-million' - David Gant |
.
"The cost of the track has been professionally estimated at
R500-million and I believe we can raise the money from the private
sector.
"We do not want to ask the government for money - it has other serious
priorities - but we will approach the provincial government and Cape
Town city council for a contribution to staging the races."
An agreement with Ecclestone would give South Africa the right to host an F1 GP once a year for five years.
Gant said the track would also be used for other high-profile
motorsport events such as Motorcycle GP and Superbike races as well as
other car racing formulas such as Le Mans-style sports cars.
"We have private equity from a large black-empowerment group and have approached other industries," Gant said.
"This is to be an African GP, not just a Cape Town event, so it is attracting the interest of a wide spectrum of investors
'Ecclestone wants F1 to come to South Africa and, more specifically, to Cape Town. Where else?' |
."
Gant says Ecclestone's F1 company desperately wants an African GP:
"Ecclestone wants F1 to come to South Africa and, more specifically, to
Cape Town. Where else? This city is a centre for tourism, a destination
of choice.
"The event should attract between 25 000 and 30 000 tourists to the
city every year and 120 000 people should visit the circuit over a race
weekend.
"I am quite confident the track can pay for itself and inject at least
R1-billion a year directly into the Western Cape economy."
The track, designed by German master designer Hermann Tilke who also
created the new circuit in Istanbul, is planned for a large piece of
land adjacent to Cape Town International Airport.
The land abuts Symphony Way and the Stellenbosch arterial road and is
close to the N2. It would provide ample parking and allow space for 1
000 industrial sites.
"I would like to see the Western Province Motor Club move to the track
to allow Killarney to be redeveloped for more industrial sites but that
is a decision the club would have to make," Gant said.
Not likely to happen, as WP Motor Club chairman Denis Joubert explained
- especially as, at 5.6km, it was too long to be used as a club track.
"We support the project to the hilt but it is not suitable for club events.
"Killarney has facilities that are affordable for local racers involved
in club events. There are garages, workshops and storage - I think we
have about 160 cars stored here - because club members don't have space
at home.
"For us to run club events on an F1 track would be too expensive." - The Cape Argus
|
|
Last Updated ( Sunday, 16 April 2006 )
|
