Formula 1 News: Cape Town wants to host South African GP

Cape Town hired Tilke to design their proposed F1 circuit, and the result is a layout that will provide near-zero passing opportunities.

Contrary to previous proposals, the latest design would not take the circuit through the DHL Stadium itself but run alongside it, using the venue for the paddock, media center and hospitality areas.

3.54-mile Cape Town Tilke Design – Do you see any passing opportunities? We don’t – straights are too short and the people of South Africa cannot afford F1 ticket prices. If the organizer sets the ticket prices too low, they will lose their shirt. The race needs Lewis Hamilton, who wants the race, to open his deep wallet and give the race a $10 million donation each year.

“The purpose of running through the stadium was that it can take a capacity of up to 70,000 people and our intention was to make it accessible to people that can never afford to go to a Formula 1 race,” Cape Town GP CEO Igshaan Amlay told Motorsport.com.

“After speaking to the circuit’s designers, there are a few obstacles and it would be better to actually run along the circuit.

“DHL Stadium will be used for the paddocks and the media center. Everything that was set up for the football World Cup will be reactivated, and it’s already existent within the stadium, so we will make full use of it. We will still run through the original Green Point athletics stadium, which has a rich legacy.”

March 28, 2025

Online Betting Guide (OLBG), a UK-based company, has worked with AI tool Midjourney to imagine what the landscape of Formula 1 could look like in the not-too-distant future, with South Africa tipped as the nation to bring the sport to Africa.

Cape Town’s world-class tourism infrastructure and experience in hosting major events like the FIFA World Cup put them ahead of their nearby competition, with Rwanda also in the running to host a Grand Prix in Africa.

Table Mountain would also serve as a breathtaking backdrop around a potential circuit.

AI generated image of what the Cape Town GP might look like — AI-Generated image of what the Cape Town GP might look like

March 12, 2025

A United States Dallas-based US ‘Boundless Racing’ initiative, backed by the Western Cape Government, is pursuing a Formula 1 Grand Prix in Cape Town, with a state-of-the-art racing circuit set to be developed in the city.

This adds to the other initiatives reported below and comes after the RFEOI was extended by Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie in January to give stakeholders additional time to submit “comprehensive, well-structured proposals in line with the requirements”.

The venue is expected to accommodate more than 125,000 spectators and will be the home of South Africa’s Grand Prix where 75 people are murdered each day.

The brand-new world-class, multi-purpose dual-FIM and FIA certified Boundless Cape Town Grand Prix Circuit will be a greenfields project built close to the City. A multi-use facility, it will host Formula 1 Grand Prix among other motorsport, to accommodate upward of 125,000 fans.

The broader Boundless Entertainment Complex will include a major conference and community center, a dynamic retail and hospitality component, an amphitheater for concerts and outdoor events and several other community-focussed functions.

Easily accessible by car, by bus and by rail, the Boundless Cape Town Grand Prix Circuit will have several gates for easy access, more than ample parking and also offer RV, caravan, and camping facilities to cater for all fans’ every need.

The circuit will offer iconic views of Table Bay, Robben Island, the Cape Town Harbour, and Table Mountain. A multi-venue destination complex, the Boundless Cape Town Entertainment Complex will furthermore serve as a collaboration between local businesses, national and international corporations, the community, and regional and provincial governments.

Proposals are in place with FOM, the commercial rights owners of Formula 1, MotoGP governing body DORNA, as well as the South African Department of Sports, Arts and Culture (Formula 1 Bid Steering Committee, with the tacit support of senior officials from the Western Cape Provincial Government.

Further details and plans will be confirmed in due course.

February 2, 2025

Proposed Cape Town F1 circuit - Revised — Proposed Cape Town F1 circuit – Revised

The track layout shown above is the latest proposed F1 circuit in Cape Town, South Africa.

Similar to the Mexico City F1 circuit, the race organizers plan to run the circuit through the DHL Stadium to increase seating capacity

January 8, 2025

Cape Town Grand Prix South Africa (CTGPSA) is preparing to submit its official bid to the Bid Steering Committee (BSC) for the return of Formula One (F1) to the country.

The Bid Steering Committee was set up by the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie last month to help South Africa in its efforts to return the race to South Africa for the first time since 1993.

Unveiling the Committee McKenzie said it will “coordinate the bid process and ensure that all necessary requirements are met”.

CTGPSA’s bid focuses on a proposed street circuit located in Cape Town’s Green Point Sport Tourism Precinct, adjacent to the DHL Stadium, which is intended to be part of the 5.7 km street circuit.

They believe that their concept aligns well with the global appeal of Formula 1 street circuits.

They have also revealed that in 2017, they secured support from the Western Cape Government’s Director of Sports Promotion T.D. Tutu, through an official letter of endorsement to host the Formula One Grand Prix.

In a letter to CTGPSA CEO, Igshaan Amlay, dated August 5, 2024, McKenzie welcomed the group’s interest in hosting Formula One (F1) in Cape Town, adding that they would now proceed to conduct a thorough review.

“Thank you for your letter dated August 2, 2024, outlining the significant efforts and milestones achieved by Cape Town Grand Prix SA in pursuit of hosting a Formula One Grand Prix in Cape Town. I acknowledge your interest and the strategic importance of this initiative.

“Please be advised that I have personally taken over this matter, recognizing its national significance. The department will conduct a thorough review and be in contact with you once further input is required. We appreciate your understanding and patience as we navigate this process.

“Rest assured, we are committed to ensuring that all necessary steps are taken to evaluate and support this initiative appropriately.”

Amlay expressed optimism about their bid, stating that they were prepared to take the next step.

“With local and international support, we are ready to take the next step in making this dream a reality.

“Having seen 2024 culminate on such a positive and hopeful note after a 19-year stakeholder engagement journey, gives us a renewed resolve to take the next steps in this formal bidding process.

“With the continued support from our local and international supporters and F1 enthusiasts, we are ready to bring an F1 street race to our spectacularly located circuit in the Green Point Sport Tourism Precinct in Cape Town, South Africa” Amlay said. –IOL SPORT–