Kyalami
Midrand, South Africa · 20 races held
Race History
| Year | Grand Prix | Winner | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | South African Grand Prix | Alain Prost | Williams |
| 1992 | South African Grand Prix | Nigel Mansell | Williams |
| 1985 | South African Grand Prix | Nigel Mansell | Williams |
| 1984 | South African Grand Prix | Niki Lauda | McLaren |
| 1983 | South African Grand Prix | Riccardo Patrese | Brabham |
| 1982 | South African Grand Prix | Alain Prost | Renault |
| 1980 | South African Grand Prix | René Arnoux | Renault |
| 1979 | South African Grand Prix | Gilles Villeneuve | Ferrari |
| 1978 | South African Grand Prix | Ronnie Peterson | Team Lotus |
| 1977 | South African Grand Prix | Niki Lauda | Ferrari |
| 1976 | South African Grand Prix | Niki Lauda | Ferrari |
| 1975 | South African Grand Prix | Jody Scheckter | Tyrrell |
| 1974 | South African Grand Prix | Carlos Reutemann | Brabham |
| 1973 | South African Grand Prix | Jackie Stewart | Tyrrell |
| 1972 | South African Grand Prix | Denny Hulme | McLaren |
| 1971 | South African Grand Prix | Mario Andretti | Ferrari |
| 1970 | South African Grand Prix | Jack Brabham | Brabham |
| 1969 | South African Grand Prix | Jackie Stewart | Matra-Ford |
| 1968 | South African Grand Prix | Jim Clark | Lotus-Ford |
| 1967 | South African Grand Prix | Pedro Rodríguez | Cooper-Maserati |
About Kyalami
Set on the high veld near Johannesburg at roughly 1,500 metres above sea level, Kyalami hosted the South African Grand Prix across two distinct eras. The original fast, flowing layout staged most of its twenty World Championship rounds from 1967 through 1985, before the race returned briefly on a shortened, reconfigured circuit in 1992 and 1993.
The thin high-altitude air robbed naturally aspirated engines of power and challenged cooling and aerodynamics, giving Kyalami a unique character. Long one of the sport's most popular venues, the circuit was the backdrop for triumph, tragedy and political drama before South Africa dropped off the calendar after 1993.
Memorable Moments
- 1977: A tragic accident claimed the life of Tom Pryce and marshal Frederik Jansen van Vuuren, one of the darkest days in the sport's history; Niki Lauda won the race.
- 1982: The season opener was disrupted by a drivers' strike over superlicence terms, with the field barricading themselves in a hotel before the weekend resumed; Alain Prost won for Renault.
- 1992: Formula 1 returned to a redesigned Kyalami after a seven-year absence, with Nigel Mansell dominant in his title-winning Williams.
- 1993: Alain Prost won the circuit's final Grand Prix for Williams, in what proved to be Kyalami's farewell to Formula 1.
Track Character
Kyalami's original layout was a fast, sweeping circuit crowned by the long Crowthorne straight that ran downhill into a heavy braking zone, one of the best overtaking spots of its era. The defining factor was the altitude: at well over a kilometre above sea level, the reduced air density sapped engine power and downforce, demanding clever cooling and gearing compromises. The 1990s reconfiguration added more elevation change and tighter complexes but retained the venue's reputation as a demanding, atmospheric and distinctly African challenge.