Kyalami

Interesting facts

At the 1977 South African Grand Prix, Tom Pryce was killed when a marshal ran across the track to reach a burning car and collided head-on with his oncoming machine; both men died instantly. Kyalami sits near Johannesburg at roughly 1,500 metres above sea level, where the thin air cuts into engine power and downforce, much like the circuit in Mexico City. The circuit opened on 4 November 1961 with the Kyalami 9 Hours endurance race; its name comes from the Zulu phrase 'Khaya lami,' meaning 'my home.' The 1985 race was run under a state of emergency declared amid anti-apartheid unrest, with teams including Ligier and Renault withdrawing in protest, a factor that helped push the South African Grand Prix off the calendar for six years afterward. The original circuit held its last race in November 1988, then was rebuilt in 1989 as part of a property development, reopening shorter and narrower with several classic corners sacrificed. Formula 1 returned after the end of apartheid for just two races, Nigel Mansell's Williams dominated in 1992, and Alain Prost won a close 1993 battle over Senna and Schumacher, before the promoter's bankruptcy ended it; F1 has never returned to Africa since. The circuit is located in Midrand, South Africa. Formula 1 has raced here since 1967, with 20 races held so far, most recently in 1993. The first race here was won by Pedro Rodríguez, in 1967. The most recent winner here was Alain Prost, in 1993. Niki Lauda has won here more than anyone else, 3 times. Among constructors, Ferrari has been the most successful here, with 4 wins.

Circuit history