Cabinet backs South Africa’s F1 bid
South Africa is on track to welcome F1 back to Kyalami in 2027, as cabinet gives the green light to a three-year bid.
Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has announced that cabinet has approved South Africa’s bid to host the Formula One (F1) Grand Prix at Kyalami, starting in 2027 for a duration of three years.
This process has been ongoing for several months, with the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit having previously received approval for upgrade plans from the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), in line with requirements for hosting F1 races.
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At a briefing in Pretoria, on September 5, following a cabinet meeting on September 3, Ntshavheni confirmed that plans to formally bid for the return of the South African Grand Prix have been given the green light.
“Cabinet approved the request to bid to host the F1 Grand Prix in Kyalami for a three-year period, commencing in 2027. The bid is fully financially supported by reputable South African private sector entities and, if successful, will continue to create jobs and promote economic development as we prepare for the event.
“The opportunity for South Africa to bid for the prestigious F1 Grand Prix affirms the nation as an important global player and reflects confidence in the country.”
This announcement marks the return of the world’s most popular motorsport to African soil for the first time since 1993, when Kyalami held its last F1 Grand Prix.
The Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit has a rich history in F1, having hosted the South African Grand Prix 20 times between 1967 and 1993.
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Cabinet’s endorsement, following a rigorous process led by the Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture, highlights South Africa’s growing confidence in hosting world-class events.
Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie has been a strong advocate for the bid, considering it a personal mission to bring F1 back to Africa.
Last year, he assured seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who has long emphasised the need to add an African race to the F1 calendar, that his dream of racing in South Africa would come true, a promise that is now closer to reality.
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