Formula 1 News: Kyalami, Rwanda, go head-to-head for African GP (3rd Update)

As we rumored below days ago in this article, South Africa’s Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, has officially announced a bid steering committee to oversee the country’s effort to host a Formula One (F1) race in 2027, marking a potential return of the event after a 34-year hiatus.

On Wednesday McKenzie announced Bakang Lehoko (chair), Anton Roux, Rendani Ramovha, Gavin Varejes, Andrew Dunn, Timothy Harris, Stephen Watson, Shane Water, Thabile Ngwato, Charnie Lee Kruger, Nomsa Chabeli and Mlimandlela Ndamase as members of the Formula One bid steering committee at Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit.

Their first priority is to appoint a promoter by February 2024 who will lead the bid and collaborate with the government for cabinet approval.

Minister McKenzie highlighted the significance of this step, stating, “We’ve chosen professional individuals who understand F1’s requirements and can ensure our bids comply with all necessary regulations.”

The bid, initiated under the Government of National Unity, has gained momentum, particularly with interest centered around Gauteng’s Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit. The circuit is undergoing upgrades to meet the International Automobile Federation’s (FIA) standards for a Grade One track. However, McKenzie acknowledged that other provinces, such as the Western Cape, Free State, and Eastern Cape, have expressed enthusiasm to host the event.

“It’s realistic that another province could host,” McKenzie said. “Gauteng has an advantage with Kyalami, but we won’t discount bids from elsewhere. These may offer elements that enhance our chances of securing F1.”

The minister estimated the annual cost of hosting an F1 race at around R2 billion ($110 million) but reassured the public that the financial burden would not fall primarily on the government. Significant interest from private sector sponsors, including offers of R400 million ($22 million) for hospitality rights, has already emerged.

“Financial concerns don’t keep me awake at night,” McKenzie said. “We have substantial private sector interest, and the government’s financial contribution will be minimal.”

While South Africa is gearing up for its bid, Rwanda has also entered the fray, with President Paul Kagame’s proposal gaining attention. However, McKenzie dismissed the notion of rivalry between the two countries, advocating instead for collaboration to promote multiple F1 races on the African continent.

“We said to them we are not at that point yet but there are big sponsors approaching my office every day because they want to get involved. If it is done correctly, it can be profitable.”

McKenzie added government is not going to foot the bill for most of the money required because of the huge appetite from the corporate world.

“I can tell you now that there is a huge appetite from Africa. Things that kept me awake at night was the bid but the money issue was not keeping me awake, and government is not going to foot most of the bill, that I can tell you.

“If you can see companies, and I am going to mention their names, like Red Bull, Heineken, they are already involved in the sport and they are here. Red Bull have already gone out of their way to bring David Coulthard here recently.

“I am just saying I will have serious questions of the sponsors if they don’t sponsor us because they are sponsoring F1 in other countries. If they don’t want to get involved, I will ask them what is wrong with our country, but I don’t think it will to go that far.

“We are going to deliver an F1 bid and this country will never look back.”

McKenzie would like to have the event in 2026 but said the realistic chance will be 2027 and Gauteng has an advantage in the race to host an F1 GP.

“Don’t hold me to 2026, that is just me being an optimist, but 2027 is what we are looking at. Timelines are that the bid committee will report back at the end of February or March.

“They have two months to find the company that will promote F1 and government will support it. Gauteng has an advantage because they already have this track here in Kyalami.”

Now a 2nd venue in South Africa has entered the bidding wars for an F1 race.  The Langa Lethu South African Grand Prix Bid Group has confirmed that it will tender a bid to host the future South African Grand Prix on the West Coast.

With Minister of Sports, Art and Culture, Gayton McKenzie set to announce a Formula 1 Steering Committee with a view to hosting a future South African Grand Prix on Wednesday December 18th, a new group has confirmed that it will submit a bid to host the South African Grand Prix at a new site on the Cape West Coast.

While a formal announcement will follow early in the New Year, the Langa Lethu South African Grand Prix Bid Group has in the interim confirmed that it will tender a bid to host the future South African Grand Prix.

Langa Lethu comprises a group of high-level financiers and a team of international motorsport specialists with proven expertise and wherewithal in promoting and running Grand Prix motor races.

Langa Lethu plans to construct a Grand Prix-ready state-of-the art racetrack with the African icons of Table Mountain, Robben Island and the Cape Winelands as a backdrop.

Located close to the Cape Town International Airport and Harbor, and state-of-the-art hospitals, the new Grade 1 FIA facility is fed by main arterial roads and public transport for easy access and convenient on-site car parks for over 100,000 seated spectators.

The thrilling new circuit will not only deliver many new jobs in the construction of the new facility, but it will also stimulate much needed long-term growth and opportunity in the area.

Langa Lethu looks forward to minister McKenzie’s revelations on Wednesday, and to the opportunity to exercise its rights to bid for and host the South African Grand Prix in line with laws controlling government tenders.

South Africa is taking a significant step towards rejoining the Formula One calendar with the formation of a bid steering committee (BSC), to be announced by sport, arts and culture minister Gayton McKenzie.

A press conference is scheduled for Wednesday at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit in Johannesburg to outline the plans.

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The BSC will oversee the preparation of South Africa’s bid for Formula One, including selecting a city and track to propose for consideration by the Formula One Group and the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA).

The committee will manage the bid process, ensuring compliance with all requirements and serving as the sole point of contact with F1 officials and stakeholders.

This initiative represents the country’s effort to bring Formula One back to South Africa, with Kyalami widely considered a potential venue. Further details on the process and timeline are expected during the announcement.

(GMM) Africa seems to be inching towards a place on the Formula 1 calendar. It is the only continent on earth not represented in the world championship, with two clear contenders for a deal with Liberty Media.

They are the circuit at Kyalami, having last hosted the South African GP in 1993, and Rwanda. Rwanda’s separate project appears to be strongly backed by F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali as well as the FIA, who are organizing the end-of-season prize gala in the east-central African nation.

Related Rumor:  Kigali, Rwanda being eyed for possible F1 race

“Potentially Rwanda is on the cards, which is amazing,” Lewis Hamilton said ahead of the Brazilian GP. “I just hope it comes in before I’m gone.

“That’s my biggest dream – to make sure I get to race there before I retire.”

However, organizers of a potential F1 return to Kyalami revealed on Thursday that South African sports minister Gayton McKenzie met with Domenicali just last month. The minister even said he had an “extremely good meeting” with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem at the Azerbaijan GP.

Kyalami officials declared on Thursday that the circuit is working hard to restore full F1-ready FIA Grade 1 accreditation at the venue located near Johannesburg.

Circuit officials said in a media statement: “Whilst negotiations with various players, including Liberty Media, continue tirelessly behind the scenes, South Africans can rest assured that there will be a suitable home for the return of Formula 1.”

Separately, a Kyalami spokesman told IOL that the track could be ready for Formula 1 in 2027 “or possibly even a late 2026 entry”.