South Africa to launch a bid to host a Formula 1 race

South Africa will be launching a bid to host a Formula 1 race a few days after Rwanda announced they will be also bidding to host a grand prix.

Last Friday, during the FIA awards gala that was held in Rwanda, the country’s president announced a bid to host an F1 race.

There have been reports about F1’s return to Africa with South Africa always a candidate to host the event having been the last African country to do so back in 1993 at Kyalami.

And while the signs were that Rwanda would be the country to do so, it has emerged that South Africa are also planning to bring back the South African Grand Prix.

In a press release by the South African Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture, the members of the media have been invited to attend a press conference where an announcement is expected.

The statement said: “The Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Mr. Gayton McKenzie invites members of the media to a press conference to announce the South Africa’s Formula One Bid Steering Committee.

“The press conference will take place on Wednesday, 18 December at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit, Johannesburg.

“Minister McKenzie is expected to announce details around South Africa’s next steps in preparation for the return of Formula One (F1). The South Africa’s Bid Steering Committee (BSC) will be responsible for all aspects of preparing a bid for the consideration of the Formula One Group and global motorsport’s governing body, the FIA. This will include a phase of choosing which city and track to put forward for consideration.

“The BSC will coordinate the bid process and ensure that all necessary requirements are met. The committee will be the only recognised body to engage with F1 officials and stakeholders to promote South Africa’s bid and to develop a comprehensive bid document,” the statement concluded.

GrandPrix247’s Michele Lupini reported that “a new group has confirmed that it will submit a bid to host the South African Grand Prix at a significant 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,” Lupini added.

The site of the new track will be “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,” according to Lupini.