On 22 September 2026, Blue Mountain Racing (BMR) formally confirmed its intention to bring a world-class Formula 1 Grand Prix to the Swartland region, positioning Cape Town, the Western Cape and South Africa as world-class contenders to host Formula 1 on the African continent by 2031.
The announcement was made by BMR Chair Neal Froneman at the annual Swartland Mayoral Breakfast, hosted by Swartland Mayor Alderman Harold Cleophas. The event was attended by the Acting Premier of the Western Cape, Tertius Simmers; the Western Cape Minister of Local Government and Environmental Affairs, Anton Bredell; and other stakeholders from local government and the business community.
BMR comprises South African business leaders, together with motorsport experts and enthusiasts.
The project is being advanced as an entirely privately driven and funded initiative with the potential to unlock substantial public benefits, including tourism growth, job creation, skills development, investment attraction and broader economic activity for local communities, the region and South Africa as a whole. The project has received extensive interest and in principle support from a number of major South African companies who see this an opportunity for catalytic economic development and showcasing South Africa on one of the biggest global platforms.
BMR has already made initial contacts with both Formula 1 and Moto GP. BMR is also engaging with national and provincial government as design and planning work proceeds. Modern Formula 1 selects host venues based on destination appeal, mass transport capacity and circuit design, rather than racing heritage alone.
The proposed circuit is being designed to FIA Grade 1 standards from the outset. It will be located on a 600-hectare site with multiple access routes and the capacity to accommodate the crowds that a Grand Prix weekend attracts. The venue is intended to serve South Africa’s motorsport culture for generations and to be a track of the calibre Formula 1 expects.
“Modern Formula 1 is no longer built around circuits alone. Under Liberty Media, the sport has grown into a global entertainment property comprising 24 events a year, each anchored in a city the world already wants to visit,” said BMR Chair Neal Froneman, former CEO of Sibanye-Stillwater.
“Swartland has become an unexpected but obvious South African choice. It has the space and service capacity required for a project of this size, together with a local government that is committed to helping potential developers and going the extra mile to attract investment to its towns.
“The track and related multipurpose developments will also avoid the disruption and inconvenience to residents, as well as the significant public costs, associated with street circuits, which make such a proposition unfeasible for a city like Cape Town.
“This proposal creates a win-win scenario, given its proximity to Cape Town, one of the most recognised and popular tourist destinations in the world. Cape Town is served by an international airport with direct connections to Europe, the United States and the Gulf, as well as rail access and a nearby port for cruise liners. It offers world-class hospitality, has a proven record of delivering major international events and is set against a backdrop of iconic mountains, ocean and winelands that no circuit designer could ever manufacture,” added Froneman.
The circuit is planned as the first component of a precinct intended to operate year-round, rather than for only one weekend a year. Plans include a state-of-the-art conference and events centre of the kind for which there is already significant demand; hospitality and residential developments; an automotive hub with engineering and testing facilities for manufacturers and teams; a driving academy and automotive skills development programme; and a karting pathway for young people from the surrounding towns.
Local participation is central to the model. A Grand Prix requires between 700 and 1,000 trained marshals, and BMR intends to recruit and train them particularly from the Swartland area, including the towns of Malmesbury, Abbotsdale and Kalbaskraal, as well as the greater Chatsworth area.
Opportunities will also be available to people from neighbouring areas such as Atlantis and Saldanha Bay across a full season of racing. The hospitality, transport, security, construction and small-business sectors all stand to benefit significantly during the development phase and throughout the life of the project, creating a substantial multiplier effect.
“An event of this size is not done to a community; it is done with the community,” added Froneman. “This is as much a practical requirement as it is a principled one.”
“This is an incredible opportunity for the Swartland and its residents. The proposed development is a true game changer for our region, and we are very excited about what this could mean for the future,” said Executive Mayor Alderman Harold Cleophas.
“We will continue to work and liaise with BMR as the project develops and moves forward. We believe in a collaborative approach to development in the Swartland that creates an outcome that is rewarding and beneficial to all parties. I very much look forward to the day when we can wave the chequered flag in the Swartland.”
The pursuit of this vision has the support of the Western Cape Provincial Government, the Swartland Municipality and the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie.
Local engagement will play an active role in the project’s development. Community representatives, councillors and relevant stakeholders will be briefed as part of the process to ensure that local interests, opportunities and concerns are properly understood and addressed.
BMR is also engaging with potential commercial, financial and strategic partners as it continues to develop the project. Its approach is to build support among parties with a shared interest in seeing South Africa play a meaningful role in the future of global motorsport and major-event tourism.
About Blue Mountain Racing
Blue Mountain Racing is a privately held South African company formed to develop a new FIA Grade 1 and FIM grade A circuit and motorsport precinct in the Swartland region of the Western Cape, and to pursue hosting annual rounds of the Formula 1 Grand Prix and a MotoGP world championship series at the venue. Its team brings together business leaders who have built and managed listed South African companies, individuals with senior international F1 and MotoGP motorsport event experience, and specialists in project finance and development approvals.
About Swartland Municipality
Swartland Municipality is a forward-thinking and strategically positioned municipality within the West Coast District Municipality of the Western Cape Province. Swartland Municipality believes in building sustainable partnerships, fostering economic resilience and ensuring a vibrant quality of life for residents and investors alike. Whether you’re here to invest, settle, or simply explore, the Swartland offers an inviting blend of opportunity, innovation, and community spirit.
