Lewis Hamilton’s Dream Takes a Big Step in Coming to Fruition Thanks to FIA – Fans urge the Governing Body

The F1 will not be coming to South Africa this season. However, racing is back to the region. In a fresh, exciting development, the first edition of the African Karting Cup took place in Zwartkops Raceway, South Africa. While it hints at a potential return of Formula 1 to the country, fans have relayed their impatience, loud and clear.

The region that hosted about 21 F1 races before 1993 never returned as a race venue, ever since. However, in recent years, momentum was gained in including South Africa’s iconic Kyalami circuit in the roaster. On this front, Lewis Hamilton has also been an avid advocate. However, due to geopolitical troubles, chances of an F1 race in South Africa have plummeted. To protest this development, fans leveraged the visuals that emerged from the African Karting Cup.

Does the African Karting Cup compensate for F1 not going to South Africa?

ROK South Africa, a leading force in the region’s racing culture, organized the debutante edition of the African Karting Cup. The event was backed by Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) in their aim to discover and empower young racing talent in the country. The competition comes in the wake of Formula 1 letting go of their plans to get a Grand Prix in the country. Per sources, the race that was set to potentially happen in 2024 was dropped given South Africa allegedly being complicit in providing arms to Russia in furthering its invasion of Ukraine.

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While the FIA has taken to its social media platforms to relentlessly promote the ongoing karting competition at Zwartkops, fans began mobilizing their voice to support the young talent of the region to shine under an F1 race. Such a voice was echoed in Hamilton who earlier noted to ESPN, “It’s a real big dream for me to race in South Africa, and race in Africa in my career is a huge, huge dream for me.” As calls for the much-awaited Kyalami Grand Prix continue, meanwhile, the African Karting Cup came out to be a huge success.

FIA on its X page, posted visuals as the ambitious race came to its closure. It noted, “Thrilling action and pure sensations live from Zwartkops Raceway. African Karting Cup, first edition, was a blast!”

Fans identified how crucial the event was in boosting the racing talent of the region. However, a common sentiment among them persisted. It was clear that an event like the karting cup could never compensate for an F1 race in South Africa.

Calls for F1 race in South Africa amplify

On X, FIA also updated the racing community on the onset of the competition. In a video that showed the same, it noted how historic the event was. “THIS is the very first African Karting Cup!” However, fans were quick to nudge the governing body to further its efforts in bringing the F1 back to South Africa.

One user echoed the calls for F1’s return to the region.

Another fan noted that these racers deserved a platform like the F1.

And then came a protest.

Followed by a demand on similar lines.

Another user highlighted how efforts to bring F1 to Africa will continue.

While the first edition of the African Karting Cup was a success, it cannot be the endgame of racing in the region. Figurines have highlighted how impoverished the country is in terms of getting those big races organized in its territories. Will the F1 ever happen in South Africa?

Do you agree with these calls? Let us know in the comments section below.

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