SA bids to host F1 in 2011

A bid to bring a South African grand prix back to the F1 calendar is gathering speed, according to a local report.

The country's Sunday Times newspaper said talks about a new race from 2011 at the Kyalami circuit, last scene of a F1 event in 1993, are taking place between the provincial Gauteng government and Bernie Ecclestone.

The newspaper said the F1 chief executive has agreed in principle, and that a memorandum of understanding could be signed by the end of the year.

South African race officials are understood to have inspected the F1 venues in Melbourne and Silverstone, and will be trackside for the sport's first ever night race in Singapore in two weeks.

A government spokesperson would not comment specifically about F1, but he said: "We value the contribution motorsport can make to the economy of the province and will continue to look at opportunities."

It is suggested that F1 officials have inspected the Kyalami circuit, which has hosted many South African grands prix, and given guidance about what would need to be done to get the venue up to the sport's modern standards.

A spokesman for Motorsport SA, the controlling body of all motorsport in South Africa, said a localF1 race is "very possible" but revealed there has been no approach by the sport's governing body, the FIA.

In January, Renault announced that it entered a partnership agreement to promote the Gauteng province.