Kyalami has high hopes of rejoining the ranks of Formula 1 hosts as South Africa renews efforts to bring the world-famous motorsport back to the country.
The historic Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit (KGPC), which first welcomed Formula 1 in 1961, was a fixture for racing fans until 1993, when the country fell off the F1 calendar.
Kyalami’s bid gained traction in September when South African Minister of Sport, Arts, and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, met with Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
McKenzie reported that the country was "one step closer to bringing Formula 1 to South Africa". At the same event, he also had a productive meeting with FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem to discuss further support for South Africa’s F1 ambitions.
To this end, Kyalami has engaged the motorsport engineering firm Apex Circuit Design to prepare a roadmap for achieving FIA Grade 1 accreditation, a critical requirement for hosting a modern Formula 1 event.
Apex has been instrumental in developing world-renowned circuits. Together, Kyalami and Apex are dedicated to enhancing the circuit to meet FIA’s rigorous standards, ensuring that it remains a competitive and engaging venue for spectators and participants.
To meet the requirements for the FIA Grade 1 rating needed to host an F1 race, Apex recommended upgrades estimated to cost US$5m (R88,7m) to US$10m (R177,4m).
McKenzie recently met with Kyalami and Apex representatives to review these plans, extending his gratitude to KGPC CEO Toby Venter for his commitment to South Africa’s motorsport vision. Venter’s efforts have been instrumental in positioning Kyalami as a viable location for Formula 1’s return to Africa, a vision further supported by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi.
“Kyalami has been deemed 90% ready for an F1 race. As things stand, we could host Formula 1 by as early as 2027 or 2028,” Venter said.
With ongoing negotiations behind the scenes with key stakeholders, including Formula 1’s parent company, Liberty Media, South Africa is closer than ever to reviving its Formula 1 legacy at Kyalami.
