NATIONAL NEWS - The Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie has announced the team that will attempt to bring Formula One (F1) racing back to South Africa in 2027. 

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 high-profile 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, a woman he credited for making him as minister “look good”.   

South Africa last hosted an F1 event at Kayalami in 1993 and this is the first step in McKenzie’s bid to return South Africa to F1. 

Lots of work ahead

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.

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