JOHANNESBURG - Blue Mountain Racing CEO Bobby Hartslief says the prospect of Formula One returning to the African continent is encouraging for South African motorsport fans.
“I think South African motorsport fans should be encouraged by the development,” Hartslief said.
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“It is a significant move away from what they have been doing across the world in the last years,” he added.
Rwanda is expected to host Africa’s first Formula One Grand Prix since 1993 in the early 2030s, following reports of a decade-long deal with the country.
Rwanda has been pursuing a race for several years, using sport to boost its international profile and attract investment.
South Africa has also been bidding to host a Grand Prix, with Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie maintaining that the country should not be ruled out.
Hartslief said the prospect of a major new motorsport facility being developed in Central Africa was encouraging.
His company is pressing ahead with plans for a privately funded R6.7-billion motorsport and entertainment precinct in the Swartland area of the Western Cape, with the aim of attracting a Grand Prix by 2031.
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Hartslief said the project had received support from South African corporates, but government involvement would also be essential to bring it to fruition.
“Government provides customs and traffic control,” he said.
“You can’t put on an event of this magnitude, bring in the amount of tourists to our country without the support of many different departments within government,” he added.
Hartslief said South Africa had not hosted an event on this scale since the 2010 FIFA World Cup, but believed the country could do so again.
The proposed precinct would be developed in Swartland, where the company hopes to attract motorsport fans and other visitors. However, significant work remains before the project can proceed, including rezoning applications, environmental impact assessments and public participation processes.
Hartslief said the company had already engaged with local communities, where there was encouragement about the potential job opportunities.
Blue Mountain Racing estimates that the construction phase could create about 8,000 jobs.
The project also aligns with the government’s broader focus on infrastructure development and job creation.
“We think that there will be, at any particular event, an upward of 15,000 jobs provided to the community,” Hartslief said.