F1: Successful Cape Town ePrix makes case for South African GP (The Enemy)

Does F1 really want to race in an enemy country?

South Africa is under fire for hosting joint naval exercises a week ago with Russia during the one-year anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine, with critics saying it will be a propaganda victory for Moscow. But what does the third participant in the drills, China, have to gain from the tripartite exercises taking place this week?

The U.S. has raised concerns about a possible Chinese base in Equatorial Guinea on the Atlantic coast.

“In terms of Russia, I think it’s quite obvious that what China has been doing is trying to provide Russia some form of platform to be able to continue conducting international relations despite the fact that it’s been heavily sanctioned,” Nantulya said. The war games that have been heavily criticized for taking place amid Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

The U.S. State Department has told VOA by email, “We note with concern South Africa’s plan to hold joint naval exercises with Russia and the PRC. … We encourage South Africa to cooperate militarily with fellow democracies that share our mutual commitment to human rights and the rule of law.”

“China has a lot to gain from these exercises,” said Paul Nantulya, from the Africa Center for Strategic Studies in Washington. “It is sending a very powerful signal to other African countries that in-person military training is now back on the table. … China and [its] People’s Liberation Army are basically back” after years of closed borders during the pandemic.

He said the drills were also sending a message to China’s competitors, namely the U.S., that Beijing has military clout in the region. The South Africa war games are taking place at almost the same time as the U.S. Army’s Exercise Justified Accord in Kenya and just after U.S.-led maritime exercises off the Gulf of Guinea.

They also take place amid heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing in the wake of the U.S. shooting down an alleged Chinese spy balloon and after Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned that China is considering supplying Russia with weapons for its war against Ukraine.

February 27, 2023

It was touted as a dress rehearsal to determine if SA’s ambition to return to the Formula One fold is not misplaced, and Saturday’s Cape Town Formula E-Prix didn’t disappoint.

Throngs of fans started lining up the streets leading to the venue – the Cape Town Stadium precinct in Greenpoint – from as early as 7am for an event which had a 4pm start for the main race.

Organizers said over 30,000 tickets – with prices ranging from as little as $20 to $185 – had been sold as motorsport enthusiasts descended on the Mother City eager to see what this country could offer amid interest in hosting the more established Formula One, which was last staged at the Kyalami Circuit in 1993.

“It’s an amazing city to race in. The atmosphere was great, and I really hope we come back again here in the future,” said Jean-Eric Vergne. SowetanLive.co.za

AutoRacing1.com’s Take: There is only one problem – while the $185 ticket price for a Formula E race is too high for 99% of South Africans, the prices would have to range between $500 to $2,000 for an organizer to host an F1 race.

And therein lies the problem.