In South Africa, three decades after the last Formula One race in the nation, there is a strong movement to bring the sport back to the continent. The bid to host a Grand Prix is being considered for two tracks: a picturesque street circuit in Cape Town and the historic Kyalami race track outside Johannesburg.

The decision on which track will win the bid will be made by a committee set up by South African sports minister Gayton McKenzie during the third quarter of this year. McKenzie is confident that the Grand Prix will be coming to South Africa in 2027, regardless of the track chosen.

South Africa has a vibrant history with motorsport, including the continent’s only Formula One world champion, Jody Scheckter. Moreover, the sport has had historic moments in the country, such as a 1982 threatened strike led by Niki Lauda against the racing “super licence” restricting drivers’ contractual freedom.

The return of Formula One to South Africa is also supported by seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who believes it would be a significant step for the sport to expand its presence globally. The current owners of Formula One, Liberty Media, have expressed a desire to race on every continent, and hosting a race in South Africa would align with their goals.

While South Africa is making a strong bid for the Grand Prix, the country faces competition from other African nations. Rwanda’s involvement in the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, however, could potentially hinder their bid to host sporting events.

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2025/3/14/formula-one-south-africa-bids-to-return-f1-to-continent-where-when-how?traffic_source=rss