A History of the South African Grand Prix

The South African Grand Prix has a storied, sometimes controversial, and ultimately unfinished chapter in the history of Formula 1. First run in 1934 and officially joining the World Championship calendar in 1962, the race became a cornerstone of the sport’s global reach, the first and, to date, only F1 race on the African continent.

The East London Era (1962–1966)

Formula 1 first officially touched down in South Africa at the Prince George Circuit in East London. A twisty seaside track carved out of public roads, it hosted five Grands Prix between 1962 and 1966. The race was typically held in December or January, serving as either the final race of one season or the first of the next.

Notable moments:

• Jim Clark won twice in East London (1963 and 1965), marking the beginning of a deep association between Lotus and South Africa.
• The 1962 edition saw Graham Hill crowned World Champion.

By the late ’60s, however, F1 had outgrown the East London venue’s safety and infrastructure. That’s when Kyalami stepped up.

The Kyalami Glory Days (1967–1985)

From 1967, the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit, just north of Johannesburg, became the spiritual home of F1 in Africa. Built to international standards and perched on the highveld plateau (meaning thinner air and more power-hungry racing), it became a driver favourite for its high-speed layout and intense heat.

This era was packed with drama:

• Pedro Rodríguez won a rain-drenched thriller in 1967.
• Jackie Stewart, Niki Lauda, and Ayrton Senna all starred at Kyalami.
• Local legend Jody Scheckter, South Africa’s only F1 World Champion, debuted in 1972 and won the title in 1979, making the race a patriotic highlight.

But the most tragic chapter came in 1977, when Welsh driver Tom Pryce was killed in a horrific incident that stunned the sport. While racing at high speed, Pryce struck a teenage track marshal who had run across the circuit with a fire extinguisher to attend to another car.

Both were killed instantly, Pryce by the extinguisher, which struck his helmet with devastating force. The accident highlighted the lack of professional safety procedures at circuits at the time and remains one of the most disturbing moments in F1 history. Pryce, a rising star with immense potential, was just 27.

But while the racing thrived, the politics did not.

Jack Brabham (AUS) Brabham Repco BT20, 6th place. Formula One World Championship, South African Grand Prix, Kyalami, South Africa. 2 January 1967. BEST IMAGE (Photo by David Phipps/Sutton Images)

The Apartheid Boycott and F1’s Exit (1985)

By the mid-1980s, international opposition to apartheid had reached a boiling point. Global sporting sanctions were mounting, and F1, increasingly aware of its image and sponsors, came under pressure to drop South Africa from its calendar.

The 1985 race went ahead, but only under a cloud. French teams Renault and Ligier boycotted the event outright, and mounting criticism made it politically untenable for the sport to continue. After ’85, F1 pulled the plug.

The Post-Apartheid Return (1992–1993)

After the dismantling of apartheid began, F1 cautiously returned. Kyalami was overhauled and shortened to a tighter, more technical layout. The Grand Prix returned in 1992 and 1993, with Nigel Mansell and Alain Prost winning those respective races.

But the honeymoon was short-lived. Political instability, financial constraints, and a lack of government support made the event unsustainable. The South African GP disappeared once again.

Legacy and Revival Talks

Despite its absence, the South African Grand Prix has remained a symbol of F1’s unfinished business with Africa. Kyalami has since hosted endurance races, GT events, and the return of the 9-Hour, but the F1-shaped gap has loomed large.

Over the past two decades, multiple attempts have been made to revive the Grand Prix, including failed bids in the early 2000s and fresh pushes for inclusion in the 2023 and 2024 calendars. None materialised, largely due to infrastructure costs and political hurdles.

But with Kyalami’s recent FIA Grade 1 design approval (as of June 2025), the stars may finally be aligning. The dream of a return to African soil, and of the South African Grand Prix becoming more than just a memory, is once again within reach.