Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit (from Khaya lami, My home in Zulu) is a motor racing circuit located in Midrand, Gauteng, South Africa, just north of Johannesburg. The name Kyalami also commonly refers to the suburb where the race track is located. The circuit has been used for Grand Prix and Formula One races and has hosted the South African Grand Prix twenty times. Among the Formula One races held at the track the 1977 South African Grand Prix stands out, as it is principally remembered for the fatal accident that claimed the lives of race marshal Frederick Jansen van Vuuren and driver Tom Pryce. In recent years, the area surrounding the circuit has developed into a residential and commercial suburb of Johannesburg. More recently, Kyalami has played host to five rounds of the Superbike World Championship from 1998 to 2002 and later in 2009 and 2010, the season finale of the Superstars Series in 2009 and 2010, and the South African round of the 2008–09 A1 Grand Prix season. International racing returned to the circuit in November 2019, when it hosted the 2019 Kyalami 9 Hours, serving as the season finale of the 2019 Intercontinental GT Challenge.

History

The original, sweeping circuit was designed and cleared by Harry Pierce and Dick Bremner along with a few friends and workers in the mid-1950s. The two were also responsible for the hosting and housing of early race teams that ventured to Africa to try out the new track with Bremner being the chairman of the South African Automotive Racing Association. The circuit was opened in 4 November 1961 with the race of Kyalami 9 Hours. Its first major international event was in 1961 until political sanctions (due to apartheid policies) eliminated the Grand Prix after the 1985 race. The final race at the original circuit was held in 26 November 1988. Kyalami came under new management and 2008 saw the 50th anniversary of the 9-hour revival being held at Kyalami with golden oldies like David Piper and others. On 6 June 2014, it was announced that Kyalami would be auctioned off on 24 July without reserve. On 24 July 2014, it was auctioned off for R205 million. The winning bidder was Toby Venter, owner of Porsche South Africa. R100 million was invested to upgrade the circuit, allowing it to successfully obtain an FIA Grade 2 status.

On 12 December 2019, the provisional calendar for the 2020–21 FIA World Endurance Championship was announced, containing a six-hour race at Kyalami scheduled for 6 February 2021. However, after the calendar was revised due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kyalami was removed.

Layout history

<gallery>

File:Kyalami 1961 - 1967.jpg|The original grand prix circuit layout in red built in 1961, 26 feet wide and measuring

File:Kyalami 1968 - 1987.jpg|The widened layout in red built in 1968, 36 feet wide and 40 feet from the Kink to Crowthorne and measuring

File:Kyalami 1961 - 1988 Layout.png|Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit (1968–1988)

File:Kyalami1988.png|Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit (1989–1991)

File:Kyalami 1992 Layout.png|Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit (1992–1993, 2009–2015)

File:Kyalami.svg|Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit (1994–2008)

File:Kyalami 16.png|Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit (2015–present)

</gallery>

South African Grand Prix

From 1967 to 1993, Kyalami hosted 21 editions of the South African Grand Prix. Perhaps the most infamous of these was the 1982 edition, when the Grand Prix Drivers' Association staged a strike in protest of new superlicence conditions imposed by FISA.

Niki Lauda became the most successful driver at Kyalami, taking his third victory at the circuit in 1984. Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Jackie Stewart are the joint second-most successful drivers at the circuit, with two wins each. Jody Scheckter became the first and only South African driver to win their home race during the 1975 edition. Ferrari and Williams are the most successful constructors at the circuit, with four wins each.

In June 2022 it was reported that Stefano Domenicali, the President of Formula One, had flown to South Africa to meet representatives of the circuit about a possible return for F1 in 2023, but the course was not included in the 2023 provisional calendar.

Events

; Current

  • July: South African Endurance Series Kyalami 4 Hours
  • November: South African Endurance Series Kyalami 9 Hours

; Former:

  • A1 Grand Prix
  • 2008–09 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, South Africa (2009)
  • Birkin Cars/TVR Invitational Race (1995)
  • Formula One
  • South African Grand Prix (1967–1985, 1992–1993)
  • Grand Prix Masters (2005)
  • Grand Prix motorcycle racing
  • South African motorcycle Grand Prix (1983–1985, 1992)
  • Intercontinental GT Challenge
  • Kyalami 9 Hours (2019–2020, 2022–2023)
  • Rand Grand Prix (1961–1965)
  • South African Formula Atlantic Championship (1976–1979)
  • South African Formula One Championship (1961–1975)
  • South African Springbok Championship Series
  • Kyalami 9 Hours (1965–1973)
  • Sidecar World Championship (2000, 2002)
  • Sports Racing World Cup
  • Vodacom Festival of Motor Racing (1998–2000)
  • Superbike World Championship
  • Kyalami Superbike World Championship round (1998–2002, 2009–2010)
  • Supersport World Championship (1998–1999, 2002, 2009–2010)
  • Superstars Series (2009–2010)
  • World Sportscar Championship
  • Kyalami 1000 km (1974, 1983–1984)

Lap records

As of December 2024, the fastest official race lap records of the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit are listed as:

{| class="wikitable"

!Category!!Time!!Driver!!Vehicle!!Event

|-

! colspan=5 | Grand Prix Circuit (6th Configuration) (2015–present):

|-

| Sports car racing || 1:40.303 || Jonathan Thomas || Nova Proto NP02 || 2024 Kyalami 9 Hours

|-

| GT3 || 1:41.425 || Michael Stephen || Audi R8 LMS GT3 || 2023 Kyalami Festival of Motoring

|-

| Group CN || 1:47.188 || Mikaeel Pitamber || Ligier JS53 || 2023 Kyalami Wild Rose Gin Sports & GT round

|-

| Superbike || 1:47.562 || Clinton Seller || Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R || 2024 2nd Kyalami ZX10 Masters round

|-

| Touring car racing || 1:48.495 || Paulo Loureiro || BMW 335i || 2023 Kyalami BMW M Performance Parts Race Series round

|-

| GTC || 1:50.256 || Michael Stephen || BMW 128TC || 2024 Kyalami Global Touring Car Championship round

|-

| Porsche Carrera Cup || 1:51.774 || KC Ensor-Smith || Mygale M13-SJ || 2024 Kyalami Investchem F1600 round

|-

| GT4 || 1:52.127 || Joseph Ellerine || Audi R8 LMS GT4 || 2023 Kyalami Extreme Supercars round

|-

| SupaCup || 1:54.958 || Jonathan Mogotsi || Volkswagen Polo VI || 2023 Kyalami Global Touring Car Championship round

|-

| Super Touring || 1:57.480 || Alex Shahini || Toyota GR86 || 2024 Kyalami Gazoo Racing SA Cup round

|-

! colspan=5 | Grand Prix Circuit (4th Configuration) (1992–1993 and 2009–2015): || Kenny Bräck || Reynard 94D || 1995 Birkin Cars/TVR Invitational Race

|-

| WSC || 1:34.776 || Mauro Baldi || Ferrari 333 SP || 1998 2 h 30 min Kyalami

|-

| GP Masters || 1:36.390 || Nigel Mansell || Delta Motorsport GP Masters car || 2005 Kyalami Grand Prix Masters

|-

| LMP900 || 1:36.756 || Éric Bernard || Lola B98/10 || 1999 SportsRacing World Cup Kyalami

|-

| World SBK || 1:42.178 || Noriyuki Haga || Aprilia RSV 1000 || 2002 Kyalami World SBK round

|-

| LMP675 || 1:43.070 || Mark Smithson || Pilbeam MP84 || 2000 Vodacom Speed Festival Kyalami

|-

| || 1:46.230 || James Whitham || Yamaha YZF-R6 || 2002 Kyalami World SSP round

|-

! colspan=5 | Grand Prix Circuit (3rd Configuration) (1989–1991): || Roland Asch || Mercedes 190E 2.5-16 Evo2 || 1990 Yellow Pages 200

|-

! colspan=5 | Grand Prix Circuit (2nd Configuration) (1968–1988): || Jochen Mass || Porsche 956 || 1986 Southern Sun 500

|-

| Group 5 || 1:19.300 || Gérard Larrousse || Matra-Simca MS670C || 1974 Kyalami 6 Hours

|-

| Group 6 || 1:20.100 || Mario Andretti || Ferrari 312 PB || 1971 Kyalami 9 Hours

|-

| Group C2 || 1:20.680 || Wayne Taylor || Tiga GC287 || 1987 Kyalami Group C2 race

|-

| Formula Two || 1:22.970 || John Love || Chevron B25 || 1973 Highveld 100

|-

| 500cc || 1:24.910 || Freddie Spencer || Honda NSR500 || 1985 South African motorcycle Grand Prix

|-

| Group 4 || 1:25.340 || Jochen Mass || BMW M1 || 1979 1000 km of Kyalami

|-

| Group 2 || 1:27.400 || Hans-Joachim Stuck || BMW 3.0 CSL || 1975 1000 km of Kyalami

|-

| 250cc || 1:28.140 || Mario Rademeyer || Yamaha TZ 250 || 1985 South African motorcycle Grand Prix

|-

! colspan=5 | Original Grand Prix Circuit (1st Configuration) (1961–1967): || Dave Charlton || Brabham BT11 || 1967 Rand Spring Trophy

|-

| Formula Two || 1:39.100 || Jo Bonnier || Porsche 718/2 || 1961 Rand Grand Prix

|-

|}

See also

  • Francis Tucker
  • List of Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit fatalities

Notes

References

  • Map and circuit history at RacingCircuits.info
  • Kyalami Marshals Association
  • Satellite picture by Google Maps
  • Kyalami Kart Circuit
  • Shelby Can-Am