zzdcar
Home
/
Reviews
/
Racing
/
Don't Bring Back The South African Grand Prix Unless You Also Bring Back Kyalami Ranch
Don't Bring Back The South African Grand Prix Unless You Also Bring Back Kyalami Ranch-January 2024
2024-02-19 EST 22:10:51

Formula One has been talking about reviving the South African Grand Prix for a few years now, and that it looks like the actual event could take place in 2024. There’s just one problem: there’s no Kyalami Ranch.

Before I jump right into the hot take, I do want to preface by saying that I am largely being facetious; F1's rampant growth in the past few years has been incredible to see, and it is frankly criminal that there isn’t a race on the African continent. I am very excited that we’re seriously talking about a race there.

I am still upset that we will not have Kyalami Ranch.

If The Race has it correct, the Grand Prix would take place at the Kyalami circuit, which used to hold events between the late 1960s and the early 1990s. Since then, though, the circuit has fallen into disrepair and needs a lot of work to restore it to an FIA certified Grade 1 track — a grading system that takes into account everything from track surface and facilities to the nearby accommodations.

The charm of the old track will likely slip away during the renovations (which admittedly already started happening in the late 1980s and early 1990s), but I have to be honest. My favorite part of the old track was Kyalami Ranch.

Basically, the Ranch was a resort at which most of the drivers stayed in and around the South African Grand Prix weekend. It was a place where they could all relax together and enjoy a little off-track competition in the form of swimming, tennis, or ping-pong. And it was also a place where just about every driver used to don their speedos for a few days of fun in the sun.

I mean, just look at this:

Everyone is just chillin’, having a great time:

Like, just imagine your driver’s meetings looking like this:

This is what the people need.

What we deserve.

Do I have an entire folder in my hard drive filled with carefully-curated Kyalami Ranch photos? I do. I wish I could add them all, but I simply do not have the rights to reproduce them. Instead, I recommend you head to the classic Grand Prix Fashions Tumblr page, specifically the . It will show you everything you need to see — and probably more. You can also listen to longtime F1 journalist Peter Windsor talk more about it .

All I’m saying is, we could use a little camaraderie back in the F1 scene. I can’t think of any better way to accomplish it than handing everyone diminutive swimwear and asking them to hang out together.

Comments
Welcome to zzdcar comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Racing
What Would A Chip Ganassi Ford GT Look Like?
What Would A Chip Ganassi Ford GT Look Like?
It's widely accepted that Ford has taken the 3.5L turbo V6 from the Chip Ganassi Daytona Prototype and stuffed it in a road car to make the Ford GT. Chief Engineer Jamal Hameedi admitted as such yesterday. So, here's what the Ford GT would look like in Ganassi's DP livery....
Jan 1, 2026
The Best Acura NSX Race Liveries
The Best Acura NSX Race Liveries
Honda has been racing the NSX for about ten thousand years in SUPER GT and the associated paint schemes have been legendary. Above is what the NSX concept is currently running, but there are so many amazing Takata Raybrig, Epson and whatever other liveries out there that I felt like...
Jan 1, 2026
The Revolving Door Of Nürburgring Ownership Just Lost The F1 German GP
The Revolving Door Of Nürburgring Ownership Just Lost The F1 German GP
For the past few years, Hockenheim and the Nürburgring have agreed to alternate hosting the Formula One German Grand Prix. 2015 should be the Nürburgring's turn, but the don't have a contract with F1, so the grand prix goes to Hockenheim this year instead. Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone told...
Jan 1, 2026
Watch A Dakar Motorcycle Skip Like A Rock On A Puddle
Watch A Dakar Motorcycle Skip Like A Rock On A Puddle
You know you're really flying when your entire bike skips like a giant rock on the water. Sure, this bike goes down a little in the splash, sure, but he really just seems to bounce over the deepest parts of it. This footage is from an earlier stage a couple...
Jan 1, 2026
Watch The Save Of The Millennium From Inside The Car
Watch The Save Of The Millennium From Inside The Car
Back in 2011, Mikko Hirvonen was thisclose to catching up to the Citroëns ahead of him at the Acropolis Rally of Greece. Thisclose, man. So, he started pushing it through Stage 10—perhaps a bit too hard. Here's the onboard view of . Welcome to , a feature where we spend...
Jan 1, 2026
FIA May Un-Screw Honda And Allow In-Season Development Of All F1 Engines
FIA May Un-Screw Honda And Allow In-Season Development Of All F1 Engines
All the non-Mercedes-powered teams in Formula One breathed a huge sigh of relief over a which allows them to keep developing their 2015 engines throughout the year—except Honda, who actually had a named due date for their design. Now the FIA is looking to let Honda develop their engine all...
Jan 1, 2026
Copyright 2023-2026 - www.zzdcar.com All Rights Reserved