Is South Africa on the verge of hosting a Grand Prix again? The country’s government has officially opened a tender to find potential organizers for a future Formula 1 race. This is the most serious step so far in the long-standing ambition to bring the premier class back to the African continent.
Searching for the Right Party
For the first time since the last race at Kyalami in 1993, South Africa has embarked on a concrete path to organize a Grand Prix again. The government has established a special ‘Formula 1 Bid Steering Committee (BSC)’. This committee, with twelve members from various sectors such as motorsport, media, and legal services, evaluates the proposals and selects a promoter to carry the project.
According to an official document, the future promoter must be able to organize a race annually from 2027, with a preference for a contract period of ten years. Key criteria include an iconic location close to a major city, good accessibility by public transport, a sustainable setup, and a capacity of 125,000 spectators per day. The length of the circuit must be between 4.5 and 5.5 kilometers, with a straight stretch of at least 1 kilometer.
Kyalami or Cape Town?
While no definitive choice has been made for a location, the iconic Kyalami circuit near Johannesburg is mentioned as a significant contender. Kyalami has hired Apex Circuit Design to upgrade the circuit to Formula 1 standards. Another option is a street circuit around Cape Town’s famous waterfront, while consideration is also being given to constructing a brand new circuit on the outskirts of the city.
Competition
The path to a South African Grand Prix is far from certain. Although Formula 1 is interested in returning to Africa, discussions are also underway with Rwanda. Moreover, the South African bids have to compete with countries like Thailand and South Korea, which are also hoping to secure a spot on the busy calendar.
