make it make sense man.
Also still no SA GP, sadge(granted Iโm poor right now so Iโm ok with it. but its the one thing I really wish I can still take my dad to)
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I have no wordsโฆ
I rather will withhold my comment!
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More entertaining than Madring by farโฆ
Max Verstappen takes on 100 amateur drivers from around the world at Silverstone in Max vs 100.
The full broadcast is on Disney+:
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One potentially good thing about next yearsโ calendar is that thereโs no F1 Grand Prix over the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 24 Hours of Nurbugring, or the 24 Hours of Spa races next year. And with so many F1 teams having adjacent Hypercar and/or GT entries, itโs not outside the realm of possibility that we may see some F1 drivers in crossover endurance races next year. 
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I have a feeling it was planned around Maxโs schedule!
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At least a Sprint at Monaco means an extra qualifying session, which over the last few years has been the most interesting part of the whole weekend.
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Itโs RAWE CEEKs!! Yes, plural!
Nine races left in the season and theyโre coming thick and fast - a triple set of triple headers. 6 Grands Prix in seven weeks, 9 in 12 weeks. Assuming the final two on the schedule, Qatar and Abu Dhabi, actually take place on the scheduled days. Probably not in Qatar and Abu Dhabi though. Where in Europe would the weather and cold allow the safe running of two GPs in late November and early December?
And donโt miss out on the action from Baku this weekend - the race is on Saturday, not Sunday. This is due to a Remembrance Day holiday in Azerbaijan on the Sunday.
That means Free Practice 1 and 2 on Thursday and FP3 and Qualifying on Friday.
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I know a place thatโs Europe adjacent, all the rage in race replacement circles.
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Turns out Kyalami doesnโt have to waste any time or money upgradingโฆ
Build an entire FIA Grade 1 circuit and all the needed bits in just 5 years and secure a F1 GP contract. No sweat.
Zoomed in view of the graphicโฆ
And the full press release from the Swartland Municipality Facebookโ
page:
๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ก๐ง ๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐จ๐ ๐ ๐ข๐จ๐ก๐ง๐๐๐ก ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ก๐
๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ง๐ข๐ช๐ก, ๐ฎ๐ฎ ๐ฆ๐๐ฃ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐ฅ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฒ
๐๐๐จ๐ ๐ ๐ข๐จ๐ก๐ง๐๐๐ก ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ก๐ก๐ข๐จ๐ก๐๐๐ฆ ๐ฃ๐๐๐ก๐ฆ ๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐จ๐๐ ๐ญ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ก๐ ๐ฃ๐ฅ๐๐ซ ๐๐ก ๐ง๐๐ ๐ช๐๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ก ๐๐๐ฃ๐
Blue Mountain Racing (BMR) today 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 Africaโs motorsport culture for generations and to be a track of the calibre Formula 1 expects.
โModern 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,โ said BMR Chair Neal Froneman, former CEO of Sibanye-Stillwater.
โSwartland 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.
โThe 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.
โThis 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,โ 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.
โAn event of this size is not done to a community; it is done with the community,โ added Froneman. โThis is as much a practical requirement as it is a principled one.โ
โThis 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,โ said Executive Mayor Alderman Harold Cleophas.
โWe 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.โ
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 projectโs 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.
ENDS
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.
Phakisa Raceway sends regards and best wishes to the Swartlanders.
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Hear me out. You know how Italy has Monza and Imola? Spain has Madrid and Barcelona? USA has CotA and some other ones and not Watkins Glen?
We could be the Italy of Africa, just with braaiโs in stead of pizza, and a GP of Swartland and a Kyalami GP.
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Now that would be ideal! And all power to the Swartland team - the Western Cape and Cape Town are much more appealing to visitors than the big smoke of Joburg.
And the logistics of moving all of the F1 stuff around would be easier too, with Cape Town harbour and the airport being right there.
F1 and MotoGP at Swartland, WEC and GT racing at Kyalami and decent national racing of all classes all over - that would happily work for me.
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I love how they go on about being the African race but Rwanda might win the race - they are pushing to host at Kagali in 2029
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well done russell
Have to say it was a dissapointing race for me, landoโs DNF and Piastry pushing to hard and making that mistake.
Max was impressive tho
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Oh my, itโs soaking
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Oh my, itโs chaoticโ
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Such a great track
And because of the long delay we got an awesome glow along that start/finish straight.
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It was chaos, stupid choices was made, non stop from a few teams.
That aborted start was the weirdest ever and that final safetycar just felt never ending
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