Rumors has that Africa will have a GP

[mkw0101]

Check out F1fanatic.net and they are saying that Africa might have a GP in 3 years. Probably the race will be held in South Africa.

[lotus7]

Not going to happen !
The 15% of South Africans who pay 95% of the country's taxes , had to pay Sepp Blatter for new 10 Soccer world cup stadiums that are now standing usused. We are not going to pay Bernie for a new track . Cape Town fortunately told them to bug... off ( wonder if Tilke was paid for the track he alreday designed ? ) Now Durban is going to try - they are still paying on the debt of the A1GP track- and that was just a converted street track . Phakisa Raceway (fantastic track to race on ,btw ) is a glowing example of this , can't get more than 5000 paying spectators for a National event.

The pilferers of the state coffers do not leave enough in the coffers to have the potholes in our roads repaired , so Bernie and his troops will just disappear into the potholes on their way to the track. Lastly , this type of project will only "enrich" a few well connected people , arms deals are much more lucrative , more cadres can share in the spoils (the tax payers are still paying off that debt)

Sorry for the rant, but the thread title evoked a response .

[tok-tokkie]

It is expensive publicity. SA got a lot of that from the SWC but at vast expense. I think there would be a lot of opposition.

Melbourne's F1 grand prix posts a loss of almost $50m, with taxpayers picking up the bill

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/na ... 5924833769

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

Lotus7

You make very good points, it is not a rant, it is informative for those that think it to be a great idea.
South Africa cannot hold an F1 race just yet because it simply cannot afford to.
I see the straw breaking the Camels back very soon.

[xpensive]

This entire situation, where MrE has managed to have taxpayers around the world paying for his show, regardless if they are interested in F1 or not, is utterly perverted if you ask me. This was of course only made possible by having MrM on the inside to give away the commercial rights for a plate of beans and a song.

Couldn't care less if the FOM takes the whole thing to Asian dictatorships.

[lotus7]

Lotus7

You make very good points, it is not a rant, it is informative for those that think it to be a great idea.
South Africa cannot hold an F1 race just yet because it simply cannot afford to.
I see the straw breaking the Camels back very soon.

I've been a long standing member at Killarnney (WPMC) and still race regularly. First A1 wanted to come to Cape Town , they wanted WPMC to spend R100m (at the then exch rate nearly US$10m ) to upgrade , we told them to depart sexually .
Then Mr Gant and the ANC politicians got into bed with Mr E , had a track designed by Tilke next to the airport in the sand dunes ( Dubai, Bahrain ? ) Part of the deal was to hand over Killarney to sell for industrial development , we get the use of the new track - at what cost ? ditto for the rugby union to move from Newlands to WSC stadium - at what cost ? We told Gant to depart sexually - Mr Gant is now Minister of education , hehehe

Durban ( Kwazulu Natal ) haven't had a race track of any sorts since Roy Hesketh was shut down late '70s . Since then they never had a need nor the money to build a track . A1 sold them the idea - Tony Texeira ( a South African citizen- name rings bell - IIRC he once was a friend of MrE , was gonna buy Toro Rosso I think -hahahaha !) got the Natal ANC politicians excited, lots of tax payers money polished palms - A1 lost millions , tax payers footing the bill plus had to find more money to pay for their white elephant WSC stadium !! oh , Natal has one team in the national soccer league , can't get 10 000 spectators to a game , so they can't afford the stadium
Mr E , ANC politicians et al - the tax payers are bled dry, so keep going East... I'll watch on TV , as long as you don't dumb F1 further down

[andrew]

Jean Todt says there will not be a South African GP any time soon. I think South Africa has enough problems without funding a GP and after paying out a fair bit for the World Cup.

[lotus7]

Jean Todt has been "reading my mail" - ( to quote Kris Kristofferson )

[Pup]

I wouldn't read much into Todt's statement. He has no influence over where GP's go. Plus, I seem to remember a bit of a fallout when ZA backed Vatanen for president, with some fairly insulting words being exchanged.

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

Lotus7

I toyed with the idea of starting a thread to see if anyone currently or in the near past inside F1 has contributed or read this site.
But then it struck me that someone would say they are, even if they werent!

I read that a South African taxpayer funded company "African Renaissance Holdings"(ARH) are one of the main proponents for the bid.
Hoping that a bid may also improve the chances of a black driver being capable of winning the title by the time everything is settled.
(whatever happened to THE BEST DRIVER rather than simply "black driver??)
I'm South African, sometimes shamefully so.

[donskar]

Sounds like there is no chance for an F1 race in SA without unbridled, blind greed; bribery; blackmail; callous disregard for taxpayers; and nefarious backroom deals. Just another day at the office for Bernie.

[xpensive]

For a nation which is prepared to pay billions for some toyish Swedish jetfighters, anything should be possible I guess.

Money is the only matter that that makes any sense for MrE, simple as that.

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

[...]

[zeph]

More's the pity, though.

South Africa has a substantial F1 history, with the Kyalami track and of course Jody Scheckter.

But I agree that F1 should probably not be on SA's priority list right now. One day soon, perhaps...

Alles sal reg kom.

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

Zeph,

Ek dink nie so nie, maar ek hoop so!