South Africa’s authorities has prolonged the deadline for promoter bids to host a Formulation 1 grand prix, with a avenue circuit in one doable possibility within the works.
South Africa has not hosted an race since 1993 however the Minister for Sports activities, Arts and Tradition, Gayton McKenzie, has held talks with F1 chiefs in regards to the prospect of staging a race. Final month, McKenzie insisted a race and will happen as quickly as 2027.
Bids are being welcomed from potential promoters, with the Kyalami Circuit simply exterior Johannesburg – which hosted the final iteration of the South Africa GP 32 years in the past – one possibility.
One other extra bold possibility is a 5.7km avenue circuit round Cape City’s waterfront and 55,000-capacity DHL Stadium. Formulation E hosted a race in 2023 in the same space of the town.
Both approach, the deadline for bids has been prolonged to 18 March from its unique date of 31 January.
“The Ministry of Sport, Arts and Tradition, in collaboration with the Bid Steering Committee (BSC), has prolonged the submission deadline for the Request for Expression of Curiosity (RFEOI) for South Africa’s Formulation 1 Grand Prix bid to 18 March 2025,” the ministry mentioned in a press release.
“This extension goals to offer stakeholders further time to submit complete, well-structured proposals consistent with RFEOI [Request for Expression of Interest] necessities. The Ministry is dedicated to a clear and aggressive course of to safe this prestigious motorsport occasion.
“The Ministry urges stakeholders to make use of this chance to assist South Africa’s Formulation 1 ambitions.”
F1 CEO has made it recognized the game’s eagerness to return to Africa – the one continent the calendar doesn’t at the moment go to.
Rwanda, which hosted the ’s end-of-season prize-giving ceremony final month, can also be on a newly proposed observe exterior the capital metropolis of Kigali.
But McKenzie has held talks with Domenicali in current months and insists plans are in movement to place South Africa again on the calendar.
“Let me inform you, after I introduced that my time period could be a failure if we don’t deliver F1, then all people laughed as a result of South Africans underestimate themselves,” he informed Tremendous Sport.
“I mentioned, ‘I’m going to begin the work’. My staff, we put within the work, made the calls, we met with F1 twice
“The place we’re in the meanwhile, and it’s the primary time folks hear this, we’re going to announce a committee subsequent week. The committee will then select which promoter will promote F1, it’s going to occur.”
The after 2026 means there’s a spot open on the schedule for 2027 and past.
The uncertain long-term futures of Imola and Barcelona, with the addition of Madrid from 2026, might additionally open up one other spot on the schedule, with South Korea, Thailand and Argentina additionally enthusiastic about becoming a member of the schedule.
