Lewis Hamilton working to get 'dream' South African race on F1 calendar

The seven-time Formula 1 champion has often spoken of his desire to see the sport return to South Africa - and Africa in general, and would dearly love to see it become a reality before he decides to retire.

Speaking  fans in Abu Dhabi, he said: "I'm working in the background to get South Africa on the race [calendar].

"That's like such a dream for me, I've got to stay until they get that race."

Negotiations to bring a F1 race to the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit in Midrand, Gauteng, took place as recently as last year, with Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali telling Sky Sports at the time: "We need to make sure when we do something new, that it has to be with the right partners and be stable fundamentals to stay longer.

"The only thing that I can say that after the first contact with Kyalami is that there are other places in Africa that are interested on Formula One.

"That's a very clear target: Africa will come back and hopefully very soon on our calendar."

The South African Grand Prix at Kyalami was once a regular event on the Formula 1 calendar but has not hosted a race since 1993.

Earlier this year, former South African F1 world Champion Jody Scheckter blamed greedy circuit officials for scuppering a potential deal to have the sport return to Kyalami.

"I was an inside part of it, my nephew worked on it for six years," Scheckter told Total Motorsport in March.

"It was that close. The guy from Kyalami went from 500,000 to 2 million, and he wanted to take the whole thing over.

"F1 came over to sign. He had got government backing, some of the wealthiest people in South Africa behind it. Everything was in place, and the guy from Kyalami got greedy.

"Just as soon as F1 left, he changed the whole thing completely. The government realised there was a fight and withdrew, and that was the end. Maybe it'll happen back here again. I don't know."

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