Summarize

Parties preparing to bid to host a future South African Grand Prix have welcomed Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Mr. Gayton McKenzie announcing  a Formula 1 Bid Steering Committee at Kyalami on Wednesday. 

Attending on behalf of Motorsport Media, former Ecclestone-era Kyalami Grand Prix and later Phakisa Moto GP organiser, Mr. Bobby Hartslief praised minister McKenzie’s initiative. “We are delighted to note the minister’s efforts in establishing a large and diverse committee to consider bids for a future South African Grand Prix,” Hartslief admitted. Hartsleif is however concerned by the tight deadline available to deliver bids.

“The Formula 1 Bid Steering Committee has promised the necessary documentation to prospective bidders within the week, but we also sit on the eve of the annual shutdown, which essentially takes a month out of the already tight deadline to present bids. It would be much appreciated if the committee could consider extending the bid timeline to reasonably accommodate the holiday downtime. 

“For the rest, we are confident that among the bids we present Chairperson Bakang Lethoko and the South African Formula 1 Bid Steering Committee will leave them with much to ponder early in the New Year, and that the venue of the future South African Grand Prix is certainly no foregone conclusion,” Hartslief Concluded. “In the meantime, we salute minister McKenzie on his foresight and initiative in providing bidders with a structured means of tendering to host the future South African Grand Prix.”