Motorsport South Africa (MSA) has said that it will give its backing to F1's return to the country only if a number of key provisions are met including having a home presence on the grid.

While not wanting to pour cold water on the news that the sport could be on the verge of returning to the country after an 18 year absence, MSA refused to get too carried away, chairman George Nyabadza talking the South African Press Association that Bernie Ecclestone is "notorious for making off the cuff statements to elicit reaction".

However, when asked about the possibility of F1 returning to the country which hosted 23 Grand Prix between 1959 and 1993, and produced 1979 world champion Jody Scheckter, Mr Nyabadza warned that lessons should be learned from some of the more recent additions to the calendar, namely that their has to be a local driver on the grid in order to create national interest.

"F1 enjoys very little support in countries where there is no representation," he said. "Only when we can wave our rainbow flag will there be public interest and national unity."

Mr Nyabadza also claimed that before it would sanction such an event, the MSA would need to investigate the impact the event would have on South Africa's economy and the amount of money it generated for motorsport development, particularly among the "female and black youth segments" of the country.

Claiming that it would be irresponsible to host a Grand Prix without reinvesting a portion of the proceeds in such segments, Mr Nyabadza added: "The MSA board's current position is that it would only support the hosting of such an event in South Africa if it provided concrete benefits to the grassroots development of motorsport, which would happen under the auspices of MSA."

Without the MSA's backing the event could not go ahead as the national federation has to inscribe the event onto the FIA's calendar.