While the news of Kyalami Grand Prix circuit getting the thumbs up for its upgrade delighted many, including the minister of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, the F1 bid steering committee had to clarify that they are still evaluating the bids received, and not all have been happy with the process.

On Wednesday, Kyalami circuit owner Toby Venter said between $5 and $10 million will be spent over the next three years to ensure that the circuit is the only Formula 1-compliant track on the continent.

Grade 1 status is the highest international standard required by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) to host Formula 1.

Kyalami’s Grade 1 plans were approved by the FIA, meaning they were given the green light to upgrade their track to the highest possible standards in motorsport. The 4.5km surface holds a Grade 2 licence. It is estimated that the upgrades will cost between R100 million and R180m.

“When we acquired Kyalami in 2014, we made a commitment to restore it, not just as a world-class venue, but as a beacon for motorsport across the African continent. The FIA’s acceptance of our Grade 1 design is a major step forward in that journey,” Venter said on Wednesday.

On the back of the announcement, the F1 Bid Steering Committee (BSC) said that they have noted recent announcements and called the development “encouraging” and said it “bodes well for the country’s bid to host a Formula 1 race in future”.

“Whilst the committee believes this is positive news for South Africa and motorsport in our country, it wishes to clarify that the above announcement and development is entirely independent from the work of the committee.

“The committee remains seized with the evaluation and adjudication of proposals received for the staging and promotion of an F1 Race in South Africa,” they said.

“In the near future, the committee will make an announcement on the outcomes of this process along with the preferred promoter for the country.”

Minister of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, on Friday, posted that a few months ago he informed the owner of Kyalami race track that “government wouldn’t be in a position to assist financially with renovations at the track”.

“He gave me his word that his group would pay for it and see the whole process through. I salute you, Tobie Venter.”

When asked if this means that Cape Town’s bid is not being considered, all that BSC spokesperson Prince Mlimandlela Ndamase said on Sunday was: “The committee is finalising its report to the minister and should have it submitted in the next week.

“The report will provide an outcome on the process undertaken and the three bids received.”

One of the three bids came from Cape Town Grand Prix, where CEO Igshaan Amlay has expressed his frustration and concern with the process, stating that he had already been notified two weeks ago that his bid was unsuccessful.

“They lied to the media, because Cape Town Grand Prix, sees this whole process as a flawed process, because firstly, nowhere in South Africa in the new democracy, has there been a request that you have to pay R10 million rand to bid to bring an event to the country.”

Amlay was referring to the R10 million referenced in the Request for Expression of Interest (“RFEOI”) document, which states that “Interested parties/potential promoters will be required to make payment of a refundable deposit into the Sec. 86(4) trust account of attorneys appointed by and representing the BSC, to the value of R10 million.

“In the event that an interested party is unsuccessful in the EOI stage and is not selected to move forward into the closed RFP process, the deposit will be refunded with relevant interest accrued.”

Amlay said: “When we asked them what the R10 million is for, they said it’s refundable, but they couldn’t tell us when you’re getting it back.”

He said that they went back to them with a promissory note, but they were informed that the money had to be delivered in cash, and that they couldn’t accept a promissory note.

According to Section 87 of the Bills of Exchange Act is “an unconditional promise in writing made by one person to another, signed by the maker, and engaging to pay on demand or at a fixed or determinable future time, a sum certain in money, to a specified person or his order, or to bearer”.

Amlay said the mere fact that they were given a letter already two weeks ago and told them, “due to us not submitting the R10 million, we unfortunately, have not made it to the next phase” has caused concern over the fairness of the process.

“We do, still, remain committed to the bidding process, and we’re open to engaging in a fair and transparent bidding model – one that encourages equitable participation and promotes long-term development within our region.”

theolin.tembo@inl.co.za

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