Some petrolheads and racing fans that are quite eager to see the Phakisa Freeway outside of Welkom revived.
The whole revival has been sparked by locals, and especially Shakir Smith and Tobs Motlokoa, who are supported by racers, local and national car and bike officials, safety officials, scrutineers, councillors and even Members of Parliament (MPs), etc.
All eager to get the Motorsport South Africa (MSA) license re-instated and see racing take place again. Piet Botha, DA councillor, says he has been reliably told that even the MSA wants Phakisa back on the motorsport calendar, which in itself is very positive.
Estelle Dansey, in whose ward Phakisa falls, says that many meetings have been held and contact made to assist in getting funds and officials in place so that the dream can be realised to see one of the best tracks hosting events again.
Botha supports the venture. He says Vic Maharaj of the MSA has been informed as meetings with the various sporting codes will be held soon.
“An interim committee will be established to try and fast track it. A meeting with the municipality will be scheduled soon to put a proposal forward whilst the municipality resolves on the future of the Freeway.
“Igor Scheurkogel, who is a member of Parliament, has already engaged with Gayton Mackenzie, Minister of Sport, and his office and will follow it up with a debate in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), where the minister will attend to listen to our plea for assistance with funding.
“The minister himself is a petrolhead,” says Botha.
They say the biggest drawback at this stage is find enough funding to resurface the track and improve the facilities.
“But if the local businesspeople and accommodation institutions all get involved, it will surely stimulate the already fragile economy of Matjhabeng,” says Botha.
The raceway was completed in May 1999 to cater for Moto GP and American-style stock cars. This was built in the place of the old Goldfields Raceway that existed from 1970 to 1997.
The first MotoGP was held in 1999 and the last in 2004. The course is 4.242km long and the oval is 2.414km long, on which one event was held many years ago.
The Freeway has hosted many events for cars and bikes over the years, but the required maintenance was not done and it deteriorated to such an extent that fewer events took place.
In about the middle of 2023, Motorsport SA (MSA) temporarily suspended the motor racing circuit’s license, and the Freeway was closed for all intents and purposes.
An urgent request is made of everyone that wants to get involved to contact Botha on 082 491 4052, Shakir Smith on 082 504 1824 and Bronwyn Galcoczy on 078 862 1154 so that a meeting can be set up to discuss the way forward.
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