Cape Grand Prix does not get Zulu’s motor revving

CELEBRATED South African rally driver Gugu Zulu says he is not thrilled by the prospect of SA hosting a Formula One race and sees the exercise as a big waste of funds that could be ploughed into the local motoring scene.

The City of Cape Town and bid company Cape Town Grand Prix SA are finalising a proposal to bring the likes of Mercedes champion Lewis Hamilton into the country through a circuit race in the Mother City.

The move has provoked mixed feelings among the Cape Town public.

“I say no, I don’t think it should come,” Zulu said.

“I just wish the authorities, local sponsors and provincial government and everybody could support local motor sport first before they go and get overseas events.

“Formula One will come here for one week; how many lives will it touch?

“It’s probably going to impact the lives of the guys at the top…. But for the rest of SA and those trying to get into the motor sport entertainment scene, it won’t affect us in the least.

“We need to build our own brand of motor sport first, get our local series going, get more people involved and get more people to the tracks first, and then we can look at bringing in international events.”

SA last hosted a Formula One race at the Kyalami track in Johannesburg in 1993: the South African Grand Prix won by Frenchman Alain Prost.

Zulu was the commercial manager for SA’s A1 team, Vulindlela, the last time SA hosted a major international race similar to Formula One.

He reckons Cape Town’s bidders, who will meet Formula One CEO Bernie Ecclestone once their proposal has passed various feasibility studies, have their efforts pointed in the wrong direction.

“I think Formula One is a little overrated. You can bring in something much more exciting at a fraction of the price.

“Events such as GT Cars (FIA GT Championship), sports car racing, which is awesome, and Super Bike racing, which has done well in SA.”