The South African Grand Prix was first run as a Grand Prix motor racing handicap race in 1934 at the Prince George Circuit at East London, Cape Province. It drew top drivers from Europe including Bernd Rosemeyer, Richard "Dick" Seaman, Richard Ormonde Shuttleworth and the 1939 winner Luigi Villoresi.

World War II brought an end to the race, but it was revived in 1960 as part of the Formula One circuit, entering the World Championship calendar two years later. It was a popular F1 event, but the Grand Prix was suspended right after the controversial 1985 race, due to the nation's policy of apartheid. Following the end of apartheid in 1991, the race returned to the Formula One schedule in 1992 and 1993. The 1993 race was the last South African Grand Prix, . Plans to revive the race in 2024 were abandoned.

History

East London (1934–1966)

The first South African Grands Prix were held on a road course known as the Prince George Circuit, running through different populated areas of the coastal city of East London. This was shortened to in 1936. When racing resumed after World War II, a permanent circuit was built in 1959 that retained the name Prince George Circuit. The first World Championship F1 race in South Africa was held on 29 December 1962. In that race, Graham Hill took advantage of Jim Clark's mechanical problems with his Lotus and took race victory and the championship. The race was held at Prince George again in 1963, 1965 and 1966, the latter relegated to non-championship status as a new 3-litre formula came into effect on the same day. In 1967, the race was moved to the Kyalami circuit near the high-altitude inland city of Johannesburg in the Transvaal, where it would remain as long as the South African Grand Prix was on the official Formula One calendar.

Kyalami (1967–1985,1992–1993) The fast Kyalami circuit, built in the early 1960s, hosted its first South African Grand Prix in 1967, where privateer John Love nearly took victory but ran into fuel problems late, and Pedro Rodríguez took victory. 1968 saw Clark take his final F1 victory, breaking Juan Manuel Fangio's record for most career wins; he was killed at a Formula 2 race at Hockenheim later that year. The 1969 was won by Jackie Stewart, and the following year Jack Brabham won his last F1 race. 1971 saw Mario Andretti win in his debut for Ferrari. In the 1974, Peter Revson crashed during testing, slamming head-on into the barriers; he later died from his injuries. Carlos Reutemann won for the first time at that year's event. The 1975 was won by Jody Scheckter. The 1977, won by Niki Lauda, was the site of one of the most gruesome crashes in history, when track marshal Frederick Jansen Van Vuuren was hit at speed by Tom Pryce in an accident fatal to both men. The 1978 was won by Ronnie Peterson in a late victory over Patrick Depailler and Riccardo Patrese; the 1979 event, held in changeable weather conditions, was won by Gilles Villeneuve.

In the 1980s, turbo-charged cars began to dominate. Due to the high altitude of Kyalami (approximately above sea level,) the forced induction turbo engines regulated how much air went into the engine whereas normally aspirated engines could not; turbo-charged engines had a horsepower advantage in 1982 of 150 hp and often qualified on the front row of the grid. Renault dominated the 1980 and 1982 races: Alain Prost won in 1982 after losing a wheel mid-distance. The 1981 event was a victim of the FISA–FOCA war. As agreement could not be reached with FISA for the Grand Prix to be run as a round of the Formula One World Championship or as a non-championship Formula One race, it was officially staged as a Formula Libre event. Consequently, it was contested only by the FOCA-aligned teams, with cars that did not strictly comply with the 1981 Formula One regulations. The one that didn't count Retrieved from forix.autosport.com on 9 February 2010 The 1983 event was the last race of that season, with a three-way battle for the Drivers' Championship between Prost, Nelson Piquet and René Arnoux. When Prost and Arnoux both went out with engine problems, Piquet took 3rd place and the Championship. The 1984 took place early in the season, and Prost, starting from the pit lane, drove through the field to finish 2nd behind Lauda.

By 1985, the event was mired in controversy after a state of emergency was declared by the South African government due to apartheid-related violence, as numerous countries boycotted events in South Africa. Some governments tried to ban their drivers from participating. Ligier and Renault withdrew in line with the French Government's ban on sporting events in South Africa, though Alain Prost and Philippe Streiff, both driving for British teams, took part. Nigel Mansell won his second consecutive Formula One race and his teammate Keke Rosberg took 2nd, completing a 1–2 for Williams. 1985 was the final South African Grand Prix until the end of apartheid.

Formula One returned to Kyalami in 1992 and 1993. The 1992 event was dominated by Mansell, and 1993 saw an intense battle between Prost, Ayrton Senna, and Michael Schumacher, with Prost victorious. In 1993, Kyalami was sold to the South African Automobile Association, which ran the facility at a profit, but holding a Formula One event was too costly, and F1 has yet to return to Africa.

The only South African driver to win the South African Grand Prix was Jody Scheckter in 1975. Jim Clark won four times and Niki Lauda three.

Possibility of a return In April 2018, The South African discussed the possibility of South Africa returning to the Formula One Grand Prix calendar with Adrian Scholtz, CEO of Motorsport South Africa. He said the main obstacles are the high costs of hosting the event and the fact that currently no South African racetrack fulfills the FIA requirements to host a Formula One race.

In early 2023, a deal for a return of the South African Grand Prix for the 2024 season was close, but in June, the FIA declared that the South African Grand Prix would not return due to the South African government's stance on the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

In 2025, South Africa made a new bid for a return of the Grand Prix as early as 2027. In June 2025, the FIA approved planned upgrades to the Kyalami circuit to make it fulfill Formula One standards. However, according to Autosport.com, no deal is imminent, and is "far-fetched". There is also competition from other African countries to host Formula One, most notably Rwanda and Nigeria.

Winners By year A pink background indicates an event which was not part of the Formula One World Championship.

Year Driver Constructor Location Report 1934 Whitney Straight Maserati 8CM East London Report 1935 Not held 1936 Mario Massacuratti Bugatti 35B East London Report 1937 Pat Fairfield ERA-B Report 1938 Buller Meyer Riley Report 1939 Luigi Villoresi Maserati 6CM Report 1940–1959 Not held 1960There were two South African Grands Prix in 1960. Reference Paul Frère Cooper-Climax East London Report Stirling Moss Porsche Report Jim Clark Lotus-Climax Report Graham Hill BRM East London Report Jim Clark Lotus-Climax Report 1964 Not held Jim Clark Lotus-Climax East London Report Mike Spence Lotus–Climax East London Report Pedro Rodríguez Cooper-MaseratiKyalami Report Jim Clark Lotus-Ford Report Jackie Stewart Matra-Ford Report Jack Brabham Brabham-Ford Report Mario Andretti Ferrari Report Denny Hulme McLaren-Ford Report Jackie Stewart Tyrrell-Ford Report Carlos Reutemann Brabham-Ford Report Jody Scheckter Tyrrell-Ford Report Niki Lauda Ferrari Report Niki Lauda Ferrari Report Ronnie Peterson Lotus-Ford Report Gilles Villeneuve Ferrari Report René Arnoux Renault Report 1981 Carlos Reutemann Williams-Ford Report Alain Prost Renault Report Riccardo Patrese Brabham-BMW Report Niki Lauda McLaren-TAG Report Nigel Mansell Williams-Honda Report 1986–1991 Not held due to Apartheid Nigel Mansell Williams-Renault Kyalami Report Alain Prost Williams-Renault ReportSource:

Repeat winners (drivers) A pink background indicates an event which was not part of the Formula One World Championship.

Wins Driver Years won 4 Jim Clark 1961, 1963, 1965, 1968 3 Niki Lauda 1976, 1977, 1984 2 Jackie Stewart 1969, 1973 Carlos Reutemann 1974, 1981 Nigel Mansell 1985, 1992 Alain Prost 1982, 1993Sources:

Repeat winners (constructors) A pink background indicates an event which was not part of the Formula One World Championship.

Teams in bold are competing in the Formula One championship in 2026.

Wins Constructor Years won 6 Lotus 1961, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1978 4 Ferrari 1971, 1976, 1977, 1979 Williams 1981, 1985, 1992, 1993 2 Maserati 1934, 1939 Cooper 1960, 1967 Tyrrell 1973, 1975 Renault 1980, 1982 Brabham 1970, 1983 McLaren 1972, 1984Source:

Repeat winners (engine manufacturers) A pink background indicates an event which was not part of the Formula One World Championship.

Manufacturers in bold are competing in the Formula One championship in 2026.

Wins Manufacturer Years won8 Ford *1968, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1981 5 Climax1960, 1961, 1963, 1965, 1966 4 Ferrari 1971, 1976, 1977, 1979 Renault1980, 1982, 1992, 1993 3 Maserati 1934, 1939, 1967Source: * Built by Cosworth

References

External links

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