McKenzie says South Africa still pursuing F1 race for 2028 or 2029

South Africa is still looking at a Formula 1 race in 2028 or 2029, sports minister Gayton McKenzie said, rejecting the suggestion that Rwanda had beaten his country to a place on the calendar.

F1 has signed a 10-year agreement to stage a Grand Prix in Rwanda from the early 2030s. The race is planned for the RISE Motordrome in Bugesera, about 40 kilometres south of Kigali.

At a media briefing reported by Independent Online (IOL), McKenzie congratulated Rwanda and said the two countries were not in competition. He said Rwanda had applied years before he thought he might become sports minister, and had done the work F1 wanted.

South Africa's previous push to revive the Kyalami circuit collapsed ahead of the 2023 season after promoters failed to meet Formula One Management's financial guarantees.

McKenzie said South Africa had spoken to sponsors, naming MTN, Betway, Discovery and Canal+. He also said a major bank was partnering with the effort, but that its name would be announced at a later event.