Blue Mountain Racing, a group seeking to bring Formula 1 to Cape Town, South Africa, says it will press ahead with plans for a new circuit despite Rwanda securing a pact to host a Grand Prix.
The group is sticking with its target of hosting a race in 2031, according to a statement issued on Wednesday.
“We find Formula 1’s return to Africa encouraging for our own plans,” it said. “Africa is a continent of more than 50 countries and approximately 1.6 billion people and therefore it has room for more than one Grand Prix, it said.
Cape Town circuit plans
Blue Mountain Racing is led by Neal Froneman, former chief executive officer of Sibanye Stillwater Ltd. Its members include mining veteran Srinivasan Venkatakrishnan and Robert Appelbaum of law firm Webber Wentzel.
The group is working with South African entrepreneur Bob Hartslief to develop a 6.7 billion-rand ($406 million) motorsport complex.
The proposed facility will be located in Swartland, a wheat-growing region north of Cape Town. The project aims to establish the area as a destination for international motorsport.
Rwanda prepares for F1 return
Rwanda plans to host its first Formula 1 Grand Prix at a purpose-built circuit in Bugesera.
Formula 1 said the race will take place after construction of the six-kilometre (3.7-mile) track. The circuit is expected to be completed early in the next decade.
Rwanda’s plans mark a major step towards restoring Formula 1 racing to Africa. However, Blue Mountain Racing believes the continent can support more than one Grand Prix.
Africa’s last Grand Prix
The proposed races could revive Formula 1’s presence in Africa after almost four decades without a Grand Prix.
The continent last hosted a race in 1993 at the Kyalami Raceway, north of Johannesburg in South Africa.
French driver Alain Prost won the event, which remains Africa’s most recent Formula 1 Grand Prix.
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