Five memories from Kyalami

THE death of Tom Pryce, 1977. During the South African Formula One Grand Prix, Welsh driver Pryce hit 19-year-old marshal Frederik Jansen van Vuuren at about 270km/h, killing both instantly. American driver Peter Revson was another F1 casualty at the track when the front suspension of his car broke during testing before the 1974 Grand Prix.

Jody Scheckter’s victory in the 1975 F1 grand prix. The South African, driving a Tyrrell Ford, landed the country’s sole F1 win at Kyalami.

Fast Freddie and Eddie Lawson in the 1980s. The American legends dominated the four motorcycle grands prix held at Kyalami. Freddie Spencer won the 500cc race in 1983 and the 250cc one in 1985, whereas Lawson won in 1984 and 1985.

Nitro Nori in 2009. Japanese rider Noryuki Haga won both races in the penultimate year the World Superbike round was held at Kyalami. The SBK series is the only one of three main events still held in South Africa, and this year’s round is at the Phakisa Freeway near Welkom in September.

Going out on a high in 1993. The final F1 race at Kyalami was a fitting, if unintended, swan song. Alain Prost held off Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher to win the most thrilling race at the venue, which had been modified during the isolation years from one of the fastest circuits to the technically tight course it is today. After the race, the Automobile Association bought the track and ran it at a profit, but it could not afford to host an F1 event.