Kyalami

History

The original circuit was designed and cleared by Harry Pierce and Dick Bremner with a few friends and workers in the mid-1950s. Bremner, chairman of the South African Automotive Racing Association, also helped house early race teams that came to Africa to test the new track. The circuit opened on 4 November 1961 with the Kyalami 9 Hours race, and its first major international event followed that same year. Political sanctions due to apartheid policies eliminated the Grand Prix after the 1985 race, and the final race on the original layout took place on 26 November 1988.

The clockwise layout featured a long straight and nine corners named after local geography, South African cultural elements, and racing terminology. Crowthorne Corner, a tight right-hander, was the first turn after the start-finish straight and took its name from the Crowthorne Hotel. Barbecue Bend, a medium-speed right-hander, likely referenced the South African tradition of braais held near that section. Jukskei Sweep, a long fast left-hand curve, was named for the Jukskei River, which itself was named after the traditional Afrikaner game of Jukskei.

Sunset Bend, a fast right-hander, was so called because drivers often faced the setting sun there. Clubhouse Bend was a 90-degree left-hander named after the motorsport clubhouse located at that point. The Esses consisted of a left-hander (Esses 1) followed by a right-handed 90-degree bend (Esses 2) leading uphill. Leeukop Bend was a tight right-hand hairpin named after Leeukop hill and also referred to the Leeukop Prison on adjacent land. The Kink was a right deviation splitting the main straight into two sections.

South African Grand Prix

Kyalami hosted 21 editions of the South African Grand Prix from 1967 to 1993. The 1982 race was marked by a strike of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association protesting new superlicence conditions imposed by FISA. Niki Lauda is the most successful driver at the circuit with three victories, while Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Jackie Stewart each won twice. Jody Scheckter became the first and only South African driver to win his home race, doing so in 1975.