Could Formula 1 make a return to South Africa in 2031? A private consortium has announced its plans to develop a world-class F1 Grand Prix circuit outside Cape Town in a bid to do just that.
Originally published via CarMag
In a bid to bring Formula 1 racing back to South Africa, a private consortium named Blue Mountain Racing (BMR) has announced its intention to build a world-class Grand Prix circuit in the Swartland region, outside Cape Town, in the Western Cape.
BMR chairman Neal Froneman, former Sibanye-Stillwater CEO, made the announcement at the 2026 Swartland mayoral breakfast, which was hosted by Swartland Mayor Alderman Harold Cleophas. Western Cape Acting Premier Tertius Simmers, Western Cape Minister of Local Government and Environmental Affairs Anton Bredell, and representatives from the local business community were also in attendance.
Froneman, mining veteran Srinivasan Venkatakrishnan, Robert Appelbaum, partner at Webber Wentzel law firm, and businessman Bob Hartslief, intend to bring F1 back to SA in 2031 through the development of the planned motorsport complex, which will be based near Malmesbury. BMR is working with Rothschild & Co. to advise on financing this $410 million (R6.7 billion) privately funded project. The circuit itself is estimated to cost around R2 billion, with the rest of the funding going toward the greater motorsport complex.
Named Blue Mountain Racing Grand Prix, the circuit will feature at the centre of the complex, with a host of additional facilities surrounding it. The latter includes conference, exhibition and hospitality facilities, and residential property. Blue Mountain Racing Grand Prix is set to accommodate 125 000 spectators.
According to Froneman, “Modern Formula 1 is no longer built around circuits alone […] The sport has grown into a global entertainment property comprising 24 events a year, each anchored in a city the world already wants to visit.”
Originally published via CarMag
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