Ecclestone eyes return to South Africa

With Formula 1's commercial boss ever keen to find new markets for the sport, he told BBC Radio 5 Live on Sunday morning that South Africa and Russia were events he was eager to see added to the schedule.

Speaking after a successful World Cup in South Africa, Ecclestone was asked if the country was somewhere F1 should be racing.

"You're absolutely right, it is another continent where we should be," he said. "It would be nice to have covered the world, but Russia is more important right now. Africa is limited for all the people who are involved in F1 for business, whereas Russia is wide open.

"But we will see. We have been talking to the people in South Africa for quite a long time off and on. The chances are okay. It's a case of getting the right venue always.

"We've been talking to the people in Cape Town. There are one or two places that could happen and are coming on quite strong.

"We're talking about building a circuit. It's probably about three years away. That's what I would like to see. I would hope so. I've been hoping that for five years.

"Hopefully what the World Cup has done for Africa, people will think it will be good for F1 to be there."

F1's calendar is already rapidly expanding - with the South Korean Grand Prix getting added this year. India is following in 2011 while the United States GP is scheduled to return in 2012.