South Africa's Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton Mckenzie, has announced that the country wants to host the Formula One Grand Prix in 2027, and possibly 2026 if all goes well.
On Wednesday, December 18, 2024, South Africa announced more about its bid to host the Formula One race, at its 31-year-old venue, Kyalami, North of the City of Johannesburg.
A committee was set up, given two months to prepare a venue for the race, and send a proposal to the government for approval.
South Africa last hosted a Formula One race in 1993. Mackenzie, who is already a fan of Formula One, said that Lewis Hamilton will be able to race in South Africa as he recently said that he would like to retire from the African continent.
He said, "Lewis Hamilton, who said that he has a dream to play again in South Africa, I am standing here to tell you that you will not rest until it is achieved."
South Africa launched this program while on December 13, 2024, the President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, also said that he wants to bring back Formula One on the African continent.
Many observers of the sport of supercar racing say that Africa may only be given one race.
Mckenzie said he did not understand why the entire continent would be given one race when a country like Italy has two races.
He said, “We wish Rwanda the best! We want you to see Formula One, we want South Africa to see Formula One.
Why is it that when it comes to Africa, we are considered to have one race while Europe has seven?”
He added that he is ready to share knowledge with Rwanda and Morocco if they also want to host this competition. Analysts in South Africa say that the Kyalami stadium is the most likely to be used to host Formula One even though it last hosted the race in 1993.
Its director, Toby Venter, said: “We are at 90% but the last 10% will be done in the next year.
Actions are a detailed plan of what needs to be done. We hope that before the end of next year Kyalami will be approved by F1.”
Minister Mckenzi also said that he is sharing all the information with President Cyril Ramaphosa so that if South Africa is allowed, it will go on the Formula One schedule for at least 10 years.
