{"id":27499,"date":"2025-09-06T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-06T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/?p=27499"},"modified":"2026-03-12T09:54:05","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T07:54:05","slug":"formula-one-grand-prix-set-to-comeback-sa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/formula-one-grand-prix-set-to-comeback-sa\/","title":{"rendered":"Formula One Grand Prix Set to Make a Comeback to Kyalami After 30 Years"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The dream of seeing Formula One cars tearing through Kyalami\u2019s iconic track is one step closer to reality. Cabinet has officially approved the Department of Sports\u2019 request to bid to host the Formula One Grand Prix in 2027. This move marks a significant milestone in the country\u2019s long-standing ambition to host one of the world\u2019s most prestigious sporting events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-kyalami-upgrades-to-global-standards\">Kyalami Upgrades to Global Standards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Formula One federation has already confirmed that it will upgrade Kyalami\u2019s circuit to Grade 1 status, the highest certification required to host an F1 race. This endorsement positions the venue among the elite circuits globally. It ensures that the circuit meets the demanding technical and safety standards of the sport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The approval puts South Africa firmly in contention to rejoin the official F1 calendar. It promises to bring motorsport\u2019s biggest names and fastest cars back to local fans for the first time in over three decades.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/gauteng-image-1757082407-1024x372.png\" alt=\"Gauteng News Image\" class=\"wp-image-27503\" style=\"width:782px;height:auto\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image: Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Also read:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/sa-f1-grand-prix-gayton-mckenzie\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SA on the Brink of Confirming F1 Grand Prix at Kyalami, Says Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-856712705\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-a-historic-return-after-30-years\">A Historic Return After 30 Years<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>South Africa last hosted a Formula One Grand Prix in 1993, a year before the dawn of democracy. Alain Prost won the event at Kyalami, etching it in history as the final race on African soil. Should the bid succeed, the 2027 edition will mark a historic return of the sport. It will end Africa\u2019s long absence from the Formula One calendar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-financial-backing-from-private-sector\">Financial Backing from Private Sector<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>According to Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, the bid is fully supported by reputable players in the South African private sector. This financial commitment signals confidence in the project\u2019s ability to generate substantial returns. These returns will come through tourism, sponsorships, and commercial partnerships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cThe bid is fully financially supported by the reputable South African private sector and if successful will contribute to job creation and economic development. The mere granting of an opportunity for South Africa to bid for the prestigious Formula One Grand Prix is an affirmation of South Africa as an important world actor and confidence in the country,\u201d Ntshavheni told journalists at a media briefing.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">[WATCH] Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, says Cabinet has approved SA bid to host the Formula 1 Grand Prix at Kyalami in Johannesburg for three years, starting in 2027. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Vu5yZI1SxL\">pic.twitter.com\/Vu5yZI1SxL<\/a><\/p>&mdash; SABC News (@SABCNews) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SABCNews\/status\/1963938358867980604?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">September 5, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-1616067836\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-driving-economic-growth-and-tourism\">Driving Economic Growth and Tourism<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The potential economic impact of hosting Formula One cannot be overstated. Globally, F1 races attract thousands of international visitors. They boost hotel occupancy and stimulate local business growth. For our country, it could mean billions injected into the economy. It could also create job opportunities across multiple industries, from hospitality and transport to media and event management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tourism is expected to be one of the biggest winners. With the global spotlight on Kyalami, international fans could be enticed to explore other parts of the country. This would further expand revenue streams beyond race week.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/gauteng-image-1757082504-1024x576.png\" alt=\"Gauteng News Image\" class=\"wp-image-27504\" style=\"width:682px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/gauteng-image-1757082504-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/gauteng-image-1757082504-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/gauteng-image-1757082504-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/gauteng-image-1757082504-150x84.png 150w, https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/gauteng-image-1757082504-450x253.png 450w, https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/gauteng-image-1757082504.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image: Kyalami<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Also read:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/kyalami-festival-of-motoring-tickets\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kyalami Festival of Motoring: Get Your Tickets for August\u2019s Premier Automotive Event<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-global-confidence-in-south-africa\">Global Confidence in South Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The bid itself, regardless of the outcome, signals growing international confidence in the country\u2019s ability to host large-scale events. South Africa has successfully staged global tournaments before, including the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the Rugby World Cup in 1995. Securing the Formula One Grand Prix would further cement the nation\u2019s reputation as a capable host on the world stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-2362899708\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-race-towards-2027\">The Race Towards 2027<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While the final decision rests with Formula One\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ewn.co.za\/2025\/09\/05\/cabinet-approves-sports-departments-request-to-bid-to-host-formula-one-grand-prix?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR42Pj7HOq3TjjVmjJA6ysTuUfTGW9Ibr8XaPs0WaCE881iOJ9ZNko-1g3JfsA_aem_Z_ZQawVVdqgdlSq4i4CQOw#error=login_required&amp;state=c1b7123d-9b16-4acf-a5df-f8492383687f\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">governing body<\/a>, the foundations have been firmly laid. With Cabinet\u2019s backing, Kyalami\u2019s world-class upgrades, and private sector funding in place, South Africa\u2019s bid carries strong credibility. If successful, the three-year hosting agreement beginning in 2027 could place the country back at the heart of the global motorsport calendar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For South African fans, the possibility of seeing the likes of Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, and Charles Leclerc speed down Kyalami\u2019s straights is no longer just a dream \u2014 it is a reality waiting on the green light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/gauteng.news\/2025\/01\/16\/formula-1-2025-calendar-must-watch-races\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Formula One 2025 calendar here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Related article: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/sa-moves-closer-to-hosting-formula\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">South Africa Moves Closer to Hosting Formula 1 After Kyalami Circuit Upgrade Approval<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The dream of seeing Formula One cars tearing through Kyalami\u2019s iconic track is one step closer to reality. Cabinet has officially approved the Department of Sports\u2019 request to bid to host the Formula One Grand Prix in 2027. This move marks a significant milestone in the country\u2019s long-standing ambition to host one of the world\u2019s<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":27505,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_focus_keyword":"","rank_math_title":"","rank_math_description":"The dream of seeing Formula One cars tearing through Kyalami\u2019s iconic track is one step closer to reality. Cabinet has officially approved the Department of...","footnotes":""},"categories":[56,64],"tags":[357,11108],"class_list":{"0":"post-27499","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports","8":"category-sports-news","9":"tag-formula-1-news","10":"tag-latest-sports-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27499","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27499"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27499\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27506,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27499\/revisions\/27506"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27505"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27499"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27499"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27499"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}