Durban street circuit
Encyclopedia
The Durban street circuit is a 3.283 kilometres (2 mi) temporary street circuit
located in Durban
, South Africa
which is 300 metres from Durban's North Beach and 800 metres from Durban's CBD. It was used for the A1 Grand Prix
from 2005 to 2008
. The A1 Grand Prix
race held on this circuit was the first international open-wheel automobile race held in the country since the 1993 South African Grand Prix
.
The 2006 event
attracted more than 105,000 spectators despite restricted seating (22 000). The event was voted the best round of the 2005–06 A1 Grand Prix season. It was also one of the biggest sports events in Durban's history. Rumors claimed that a future South African Formula One
Grand Prix
would possibly be raced in the street circuit. However, there are no official sources confirmed that any future South African Grand Prix
in the Durban
Streets. It was announced on July 21, 2008 that Kyalami
would host the South African round of the 2008-09 A1 Grand Prix season
instead of the Durban
street circuit.
In 2010 the Durban street circuit was to host a round of the new FIA GT1 World Championship
. However, following delays in completing alterations to the Durban street circuit due to construction for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
, the South African round was postponed until 2011. A Spanish event at the brand new Circuito de Navarra
was proposed as a replacement for Durban on the calendar, and was confirmed at the FIA World Motor Sport Council
meeting of 24 October.
It has with 9 corners and 5 straights - the longest straight is 700m long. The Durban Street Circuit was heavily constrained by the location of the streets and the locations of the grandstands with seating for only 22,000 constructed for the 2006 event
.
Street circuit
A street circuit is a racing circuit composed by temporarily closed-off public roads of a city, town or village, used in motor races. Facilities such as the paddock, pit boxes, fences and grandstands are usually placed temporarily and removed soon after the race is over but in modern times the...
located in Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
which is 300 metres from Durban's North Beach and 800 metres from Durban's CBD. It was used for the A1 Grand Prix
A1 Grand Prix
A1 Grand Prix was a 'single make' open-wheel auto racing series. It was unique in its field in that competitors solely represented their nation as opposed to themselves or a team, the usual format in most formula racing series. As such, it was often promoted as the "World Cup of Motorsport"...
from 2005 to 2008
2007-08 A1 Grand Prix season
The 2007-08 A1 Grand Prix season was the third in the relatively short history of the championship.- Teams :All teams used same A1 Grand Prix car including chassis , engine and tyre...
. The A1 Grand Prix
A1 Grand Prix
A1 Grand Prix was a 'single make' open-wheel auto racing series. It was unique in its field in that competitors solely represented their nation as opposed to themselves or a team, the usual format in most formula racing series. As such, it was often promoted as the "World Cup of Motorsport"...
race held on this circuit was the first international open-wheel automobile race held in the country since the 1993 South African Grand Prix
1993 South African Grand Prix
The 1993 South African Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Kyalami on March 14, 1993. It was the first round of the 1993 Formula One season....
.
The 2006 event
2005-06 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, South Africa
The 2005–06 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, South Africa was a A1 Grand Prix race, held on the weekend of January 29, 2006 at a street course in Durban, South Africa. This was the only street course of the 2005-06 A1 Grand Prix season.__FORCETOC__-Practice:...
attracted more than 105,000 spectators despite restricted seating (22 000). The event was voted the best round of the 2005–06 A1 Grand Prix season. It was also one of the biggest sports events in Durban's history. Rumors claimed that a future South African Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
Grand Prix
South African Grand Prix
The South African Grand Prix was first run as a Grand Prix motor racing handicap race in 1934 at the Prince George Circuit at East London, Eastern Cape Province...
would possibly be raced in the street circuit. However, there are no official sources confirmed that any future South African Grand Prix
South African Grand Prix
The South African Grand Prix was first run as a Grand Prix motor racing handicap race in 1934 at the Prince George Circuit at East London, Eastern Cape Province...
in the Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
Streets. It was announced on July 21, 2008 that Kyalami
Kyalami
Kyalami is a motor racing circuit located in Midrand, Gauteng province, South Africa. The circuit has been used for Grand Prix and Formula One races and has hosted the South African Grand Prix many times. In recent years, the area surrounding the circuit has developed into a residential and...
would host the South African round of the 2008-09 A1 Grand Prix season
2008-09 A1 Grand Prix season
The 2008–09 A1 Grand Prix season was the fourth and final season in its short history. It was announced that Ferrari will be supplying the engines. All cars and official merchandise are contractually obligated to portray the slogan "Powered by Ferrari"....
instead of the Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
street circuit.
In 2010 the Durban street circuit was to host a round of the new FIA GT1 World Championship
FIA GT1 World Championship
The FIA GT1 World Championship is a world championship sports car racing series developed by the SRO Group and regulated by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . It features multiple grand tourer race cars based on production road cars and conforming with the GT1 regulations competing in...
. However, following delays in completing alterations to the Durban street circuit due to construction for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
, the South African round was postponed until 2011. A Spanish event at the brand new Circuito de Navarra
Circuito de Navarra
Circuito de Navarra is a motorsport race track that opened in June 2010 near Los Arcos in the Navarre region of Northern Spain. It is a permanent road course that hosts the Superleague Formula series and the FIA GT1 World Championship....
was proposed as a replacement for Durban on the calendar, and was confirmed at the FIA World Motor Sport Council
FIA World Motor Sport Council
The World Motor Sport Council is the most powerful body of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . It decides on rules and regulations for the FIA's various racing series, from karting to Formula One. Its membership is chosen by the FIA General Assembly, which contains representatives from...
meeting of 24 October.
The circuit
The 3.3 km temporary street circuit incorporates long fast straights along NMR Ave, and Suncoast Boulevard, a slow hairpin on Snell Parade and a challenging chicane through Argyle and Brickhill Roads.It has with 9 corners and 5 straights - the longest straight is 700m long. The Durban Street Circuit was heavily constrained by the location of the streets and the locations of the grandstands with seating for only 22,000 constructed for the 2006 event
2005-06 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, South Africa
The 2005–06 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, South Africa was a A1 Grand Prix race, held on the weekend of January 29, 2006 at a street course in Durban, South Africa. This was the only street course of the 2005-06 A1 Grand Prix season.__FORCETOC__-Practice:...
.