South Africa has submitted a bid to bring Formula 1 back to Africa by organizing a Grand Prix.
South Africa has two tracks that are compatible with F1: a street circuit in Cape Town and the historic Kyalami track outside of Johannesburg.
Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie predicts a great chance of South Africa being selected:
“The Grand Prix is definitely coming in 2027, no doubt about that,” he said in early February.
“Whether it is Cape Town or Joburg, we do not care as long as the Grand Prix is coming to South Africa.“
The last Grand Prix held in Africa was in 1993, a year before the democratic elections that ended apartheid. Lewis Hamilton, considered by some to be the best F1 driver of all time, has supported this project. He made the following statement last August:
“We can’t be adding races in other locations and continuing to ignore Africa,“
Also only F1 world champion from Africa is Jody Scheckter, who won the title in 1979.
The Kyalami race track in Johannesburg is certified as Grade 2, which is just below the level required for an F1 race and will need some adjustments to host an event.
South Africa’s biggest competitor may be from within the continent. Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame has also been seen meeting with authorities. Rwanda already sponsors football giants such as Arsenal and PSG and has partnerships with the NBA, which could push them one step ahead.
However, it’s possible that two different countries on the continent could host the Grand Prix at the same time.
Moreover, Rwanda’s bid for F1 could be blocked due to its involvement in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Calls for the cancellation of the Road World Championships in Kigali in September are already on the rise.