South Africa’s years-long attempt to bring a Formula One (F1) Grand Prix to our shores has received a welcome boost, as President Cyril Ramaphosa looks set to join discussions with F1 officials and race organisers.
This was revealed by the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, during a Media Briefing at Freedom Park.
“I want to share some news that reaches beyond one race weekend,” the minister said.
“His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa has agreed to join me at a Formula One Grand Prix later this year.”
McKenzie explained that the president’s joining him represents a working visit, and not a social one.
“Its purpose is to support South Africa’s ambition to bring Formula One back to the African continent for the first time since our country became a democracy,” added the minister.
South Africa, alongside the rest of the continent, has not seen an F1 Grand Prix in more than thirty years, with the sport returning to the Middle East, Asia, and the Americas, essentially every continent except ours.
McKenzie declared this “not acceptable”, adding that the current model followed by F1 is not a sustainable one.
“An entire generation of young African motorsport enthusiasts has never seen a Formula One race in their own backyard. We intend to change that,” he added.
The minister went on to say that Ramaphosa’s participation signals that the country’s ambition to host a Grand Prix is held at the highest level of the state.
For a country to host an F1 Grand Prix, several criteria need to be met first, including commercial, logistical, infrastructural, and safety, which McKenzie guaranteed the country is working on achieving.
“The President’s visit will allow us to observe, to engage, and to strengthen the case,” explained the minister.
“I will have more to say on timing and on the specific Grand Prix in due course, in coordination with the Presidency.”
Ongoing discussions
Prior to the president joining the negotiations, South Africa assembled the Bid Steering Committee (BSC), a team of experts responsible for all aspects of preparing a bid for the Formula One Group.
The final bid submitted to the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), which was endorsed by the South African cabinet, included the track and city where the race will be held.
The Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit was all but confirmed as the ideal location for the return of F1, considering that the track has the racing pedigree of having hosted Grands Prix in the past, the last of which was held in 1993.
The circuit received approval from the FIA to complete work that will see its grading upgraded from an FIA Grade 2 to a Grade 1, allowing the circuit to host an F1 Grand Prix once again.
Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit owner Toby Venter confirmed that the circuit is 90% ready to host a race, adding that it would be entirely ready by next year.
“This is a defining moment for South African motorsport,” he said.
“When we acquired Kyalami in 2014, we made a commitment to restore it not just as a world-class venue, but as a beacon for motorsport across the African continent.”
The private sector has also thrown its weight behind South Africa’s bid, which McKenzie confirmed in parliament, adding that the government will not be expected to pay for its bid.
“Companies like MTN, MultiChoice, Heineken and many more have raised their hands and said ‘here we are, Thuma Rona’,” noted the minister.
Ultimately, South Africa’s bid to bring a race to our shores by 2027 failed, with the FIA confirming that no race would take place in Africa, but this has not discouraged McKenzie and the rest of his department.
“We have underestimated what is required to host the F1 event,” McKenzie admitted.
“But F1 has held our hand. So now what we’re doing is, we’ve got the experts, and we’re putting together a bid. We give them an offer, they can’t refuse.”
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