South African Prix Apparently Still On Despite Turmoil

Jean Marie Balestre, the French chairman of the international auto racing federation, Friday says the South African Grand Prix still is scheduled to be run Oct. 19, despite political turmoil in that country.

Several national federations, including those in Brazil and Sweden, are known to be pressuring pilots such as Nelson Piquet, Ayrton Senna and Stefan Johansson to withdraw from the event.

“At the moment, the South African Grand Prix still is scheduled for Oct. 19,” said Balestre, in Monza to attend qualifying runs for the Italian Grand Prix.