Porsche pays $19.5 million for South African race track that once hosted F1 champions

JOHANNESBURG – South Africa's most famous motor racing track just got an extension.

The South African unit of sports car maker Porsche bought the Kyalami race track for $19.5 million at an auction Thursday, easing concerns among racing enthusiasts that the winning bidder would tear up the track and build office or commercial buildings in its place.

Auction director Lance Chalwin-Milton says Kyalami will remain as a racing track.

Kyalami hosted 20 Formula One races between 1967 and 1993. It was dropped from the circuit in 1985 when South Africa came under an international sports ban because of white minority rule, and rejoined near the end of apartheid.

Past winners at Kyalami include Nigel Mansell, Niki Lauda and Jackie Stewart. Alain Prost won the last F1 race there in 1993.