Formula One set for a South African stop on the 2023-2027 calendar

Formula One set for a South African stop on the 2023-2027 calendar. Image credit: AdobeStock

Formula One set for a South African stop on the 2023-2027 calendar

(Partner Content) Kyalami was last used for an F1 race in 1993 but has undergone renovations since then and currently hosts annual rounds of the World Superbike Championship and national car racing championships.

Formula One set for a South African stop on the 2023-2027 calendar

Formula One set for a South African stop on the 2023-2027 calendar. Image credit: AdobeStock

Formula One is reportedly set to return to South Africa as part of the 2023/2027 season. The Grand Prix will be held at the Kyalami race track in Midrand, Johannesburg.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we are proud to announce that SA is going to be hosting an F1 Grand Prix in November 2023,” Tourism Minister Mamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane told parliament on Monday afternoon after returning from Abu Dhabi, where she attended last weekend’s Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix racetrack. So get your shoes on and book your stay at Monte Casino before the rush starts, because this will be a wild ride.

Formula One is reportedly set to return to South Africa as part of the 2023-2027 Seasons

Formula One is reportedly set to return to South Africa as part of the calendar for the 2023-2027 season.

This will be the first time that F1 has raced in South Africa since 1993 when Nelson Piquet won ahead of Nigel Mansell in a Williams-Renault before Michael Schumacher claimed his first world title at Jerez in Spain.

The Grand Prix will be held at the Kyalami Race Track in Midrand, Johannesburg 

The Grand Prix will be held at the Kyalami race track in Midrand, Johannesburg. The track last hosted an F1 race in 1993 but was renovated and reopened for racing in 2015. It now hosts annual rounds of the World Superbike Championship and national car racing championships.

Why F1 has not returned earlier

Due to changes in regulations and safety Kyalami was removed from the F1 Calendar in 1994. The whole F1 calendar was changed, and a few circuits were excluded. Kyalami had to undergo extensive renovations and maintenance to regain its position. The track was later auctioned off in 2014.

Under new ownership, the racing community was relieved that they soon will have an international certified track at their doorstep. After renovations were done the following year and a few race track contracts ended with Formula 1, it became time to rejoin the calendar. 

The news comes after it was reported that the country had made plans for an earlier date on its calendar — 2020. However, this was deemed too soon for South Africa by Formula One boss Chase Carey, and he said it would not happen until 2021 or 2022 at the earliest due to construction work required on some of the racetracks used by F1 teams before they can host races there.

Conclusion

This is fantastic news for South Africa, but it’s not the only good thing happening in the country. Last year we saw an increase in new tourism arrivals and this trend looks set to continue with even more visitors coming to our shores in 2023. From Cape Town to Johannesburg, there are plenty of things to do while you’re here!