Sport nationSOUTH AFRICA BIDS TO BRING FORMULA ONE BACK TO AFRICA AFTER 30-YEAR ABSENCE
South Africa is mounting a bid to host a Formula One Grand Prix, with two tracks vying for the prestigious event. The bid, which has been backed by sports minister Gayton McKenzie, aims to bring F1 back to Africa for the first time in 30 years.
The two tracks in contention are the Kyalami race track outside Johannesburg and a street circuit in Cape Town. A committee set up by McKenzie will choose the winning bid later this year.
“We’re very confident that we can bring F1 back to South Africa,” said McKenzie. “The Grand Prix is definitely coming in 2027, no doubt about that. Whether it’s Cape Town or Joburg, we don’t care as long as the Grand Prix is coming to South Africa.”
The bid has received support from seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who has long advocated for an African Grand Prix.
“We can’t be adding races in other locations and continuing to ignore Africa,” said Hamilton. “It’s a massive continent with a huge following, and I think it would be incredible to have a Grand Prix there.”
F1’s expansion into new markets has been driven by Liberty Media, which bought the Formula One Group in 2017. The sport’s governing body, the FIA, has also expressed its support for a return to Africa.
“Formula One wants to go to every continent,” said expert Samuel Tickell. “Returning to South Africa would be something very important for F1, which has not raced there since the end of the apartheid era.”
The sport has a rich history in South Africa, with the country hosting several Grands Prix in the 1960s and 1970s. Ferrari’s Jody Scheckter, who won the world championship in 1979, is the only African driver to have won an F1 title.
While the bid process is ongoing, South Africa faces competition from other African countries, including Rwanda and Morocco. Rwanda, in particular, has been actively pursuing an F1 bid, with President Paul Kagame meeting with F1 officials last year.
“Rwanda is in pole position,” said professor Simon Chadwick. “They have a strong bid and a lot of support from the government.”
However, South Africa remains confident that it can bring F1 back to Africa. With its rich history, passionate fans, and world-class facilities, the country is well-placed to host a successful Grand Prix.
“We’re not just bidding for ourselves, we’re bidding for the whole of Africa,” said McKenzie. “We want to bring F1 back to the continent and show the world what we have to offer.”
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