By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@Kyalami_Circiut.
Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton Mckenzie announced South Africa’s Bid Steering Committee (BSC) for a Formula One Grand Prix in the 2027 season.
Mckenzie believes he will be giving one of the sport’s most famous drivers, with the most wins in F1 history his last remaining wish in the sport, that Lewis Hamilton will be able to race in South Africa in an F1 car.
“Lewis Hamilton, you said you had a dream to race in South Africa again I’m standing here to tell you we will not rest until your dream comes to a realisation that you will race again in South Africa,” says McKenzie.
South Africa last hosted an F1 event at Kayalami in 1993.
McKenzie introduced the country’s Formula One bid steering committee (BSC) to the media this afternoon at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit in Johannesburg.
The committee includes Anton Roux, the chairman of Motorsport SA; Vic Maharaj, the CEO of Motorsport SA; Rendani Ramovha, SuperSport CEO; and former South African racing driver and F1 expert, Stephen Watson.
The 12-person committee will be chaired by Bakang Lethoko, the minster’s chief of staff.
The bid committee 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.
By the end of February, they need to find a promoter and send the bid to Cabinet for approval. F1 is still keen to find a race venue for Africa, which has not hosted a grand prix since 1993.