By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
South Africa’s F1 bid to host the Grand Prix gained momentum after the process entered the final week earlier this month, with interested parties submitting their Request for Expression of Interest (RFEOI) to host the F1 race in South Africa.
The South African F1 Bid Steering Committee announced that a total of three (3) bids were received by the deadline date of 18 March 2025.
“As a committee we will now commence with a process to evaluate and confirm the compliance of the Bids with the criteria set out in the Request for Expression of Interest document issued for the process”, said the Chairperson of the Steering Committee, Bakang Lethoko.
The Committee is optimistic that the received bids will provide a glimpse into the future possibility of an F1 Grand Prix on African soil and South Africa, in particular.”
As previously stated, we intend to evaluate the bids and conclude this phase of the process by the end of April 2025.”
“Thereafter, the Committee will provide guidance to qualifying bidders on the process to unfold under Phase 2, wherein detailed proposals will be required. These proposals will have to comply with F1 requirements and meet our own national imperatives,” added Lethoko.
While the Kyalami Grand Prix circuit in Midrand, north of Johannesburg, is deemed 90% ready and the frontrunner to host an F1 race, the city of Cape Town has also shown interest.
Kyalami took proactive steps by engaging the services of Apex Circuit Design (Apex) to prepare a roadmap for FIA Grade 1 accreditation, a requirement to host a modern Formula 1 event in October last year.
However, Cape Town also wants to host the high-octane sport.
According to Motorsport Media, Boundless Motorsport, an American-funded, Western Cape Government-backed, and locally run Formula 1 Bid, is in the works to see an F1 Grand Prix run at a state-of-the-art racing circuit to be developed in the Best City in the World, Cape Town.