KALBASKRAAL, Malmesbury – A private consortium has formally announced plans to bring a Formula 1 Grand Prix to the Western Cape by 2031, with a proposed circuit in the Swartland region to position South Africa as a contender for hosting the sport’s return to the African continent.
Blue Mountain Racing made the announcement at the annual Swartland Mayoral Breakfast on Tuesday, where chair Neal Froneman outlined the privately funded initiative to government and business stakeholders.
The group, comprising South African business leaders and motorsport experts, proposes building an FIA Grade 1 circuit on a 600-hectare site in the Swartland, approximately 60 kilometres north of Cape Town.
Froneman, former chief executive of Sibanye-Stillwater, said the project would be entirely privately funded and aims to unlock tourism growth, job creation and investment opportunities for the region.
“Modern Formula 1 is no longer built around circuits alone. Under Liberty Media, 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,” said Froneman.
The announcement was attended by acting Western Cape premier Tertius Simmers, local government and environmental affairs minister Anton Bredell, and Swartland mayor alderman Harold Cleophas.
Blue Mountain Racing has made initial contact with Formula 1 and MotoGP organisations and is engaging with national and provincial government as planning progresses. The group said it has received in-principle support from several major South African companies.
The circuit would form part of a year-round precinct including a conference and events centre, hospitality and residential developments, an automotive hub with engineering and testing facilities, a driving academy and karting facilities.
The project requires between 700 and 1 000 trained marshals, who Blue Mountain Racing intends to recruit and train from Swartland towns including Malmesbury, Abbotsdale and Kalbaskraal, as well as neighbouring areas such as Atlantis and Saldanha Bay.
Cleophas described the proposal as “an incredible opportunity” for the region. “The proposed development is a true game changer for our region, and we are very excited about what this could mean for the future,” he said.
The initiative has received support from the Western Cape provincial government, Swartland Municipality and sport, arts and culture minister Gayton McKenzie.
Froneman said the Swartland location was chosen for its space and service capacity, and a local government committed to attracting investment. He noted that Cape Town’s status as a major tourist destination, with direct international flight connections and world-class hospitality infrastructure, made it suitable for modern Formula 1’s requirements.
The track design aims to avoid the disruption and public costs associated with street circuits, which Froneman said would make such a project unfeasible for Cape Town itself.
Blue Mountain Racing is continuing engagement with potential commercial, financial and strategic partners whilst community representatives and councillors will be briefed as the project develops.
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