East London Grand Prix Circuit (Prince George Circuit)
East London Grand Prix Circuit (Prince George Circuit) at a glance
- Location
- East London, Eastern Cape
- Type
- street circuit
- Length
- 3.92 km (2.436 mi)
- Turns
- 9
- Direction
- clockwise
- Surface
- asphalt
- Opened
- 1959
- Owner
- Border Motorsport Club
- Address
- Marine Drive, Blue Bend
Track map and layout
The Prince George Circuit is a street circuit set in a natural seaside amphitheatre in East London, using closed public roads for a 3.920 km, nine-turn lap. Its current layout dates from a 1959 reconfiguration intended to bring the circuit up to Formula 1 standard, replacing much longer pre-war street layouts that had run through the surrounding suburbs. The compact, undulating lap gave 1960s Grand Prix cars a genuine road-circuit challenge, though it was eventually judged too tight and short for the growing performance of Formula 1 machinery, leading to the South African Grand Prix's move to the purpose-built Kyalami from 1967.
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Prix layout (1959-present) | 3.92 km | 3.920 km, 9 turns; hosted the South African Grand Prix in the 1960s |
| Original street circuit (1934) | 24.46 km | 24.461 km, ran through populated areas |
| 1936-1939 layout | 18.62 km | 18.619 km alternate routing |
Events and race weekends
The circuit hosted the Formula 1 South African Grand Prix in the 1960s, including championship rounds, before the race moved permanently to Kyalami in 1967. Today it remains active under the Border Motorsport Club, hosting regional and national South African road-racing categories such as GTC and SupaCup, national motorcycle road racing, go-kart racing, super moto, drifting and drag racing.
| Event | Series | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Border Motorsport Club national race meetings | South African national motor and motorcycle road racing (GTC, SupaCup, etc.) | Multiple rounds through the year |
Getting there and parking
The circuit sits on Marine Drive close to East London's beachfront, a short drive from the city centre and East London Airport. Public transport to the venue is limited, so a hire car, taxi or rideshare is the practical way to reach it.
- East London Airport (ELS) · about 20 min drive
Parking
Roadside and informal parking is available around the circuit for race meetings, as is typical for a street circuit run on public roads.
Public transport is limited in East London — plan on a rental car, taxi or rideshare, especially for early race-morning arrivals.
Hotels and camping near East London Grand Prix Circuit (Prince George Circuit)
Visitors typically stay in East London itself, particularly along the beachfront near Nahoon or the CBD, both a short drive from the circuit. There is no trackside camping or RV culture associated with this street circuit, since it uses public roads that reopen to traffic outside race weekends.
Where to look
East London beachfront (Nahoon, Blue Bend) for proximity to the circuit, or the CBD for a wider choice of hotels.
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
As a street circuit on public roads, Prince George does not offer regular open track days in the way permanent circuits do; access for driving is generally limited to organised race meetings, club racing and specific events run by the Border Motorsport Club.
Lap records
| Category | Time | Driver | Car | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Formula 1 | 1:25.200 | Jack Brabham | Brabham BT19 | 1966 |
| South African Formula 1 (national) | 1:24.300 | John Love | Lotus 49 | 1968 |
Spectator guide
The circuit's natural seaside amphitheatre setting means many vantage points along the surrounding higher ground and dunes give free views over long sections of the lap, in addition to any formal grandstand areas set up for race meetings.
Seating
Grandstand areas are erected for major meetings; the natural amphitheatre terrain provides additional free vantage points.
Best places to watch
Higher ground overlooking the seaside section of the lap gives sweeping views across multiple corners.
Weather
- Dec-Feb: warm, humid Eastern Cape summer, highs around 25-27°C
- Jun-Aug: mild winter, highs around 20-21°C, cooler evenings
History of East London Grand Prix Circuit (Prince George Circuit)
Pre-war street racing
Motor racing on East London's streets dates back to 1934, when a lengthy 24.461 km circuit wound through the city's suburbs. A shortened alternate routing of 18.619 km was used from 1936 to 1939, before the Second World War interrupted racing in the city.
Building a Grand Prix circuit
In 1959 the circuit was substantially reconfigured into today's much shorter, purpose-refined 3.920 km, nine-turn layout, set in a natural seaside amphitheatre and designed to meet the standards of the day for Formula 1. The rebuilt circuit, known as the Prince George Circuit, hosted the South African Grand Prix through the early and mid-1960s, including championship rounds that drew the era's biggest teams and drivers to the Eastern Cape.
Losing Formula 1 to Kyalami
As Formula 1 cars grew faster and more powerful through the 1960s, Prince George's tight, short layout was increasingly seen as inadequate for the sport's top tier. South Africa's Grand Prix moved permanently to the purpose-built Kyalami circuit near Johannesburg from 1967, ending East London's run as an F1 venue after roughly a decade in that role.
A living national circuit
Unlike several of the era's now-defunct South African circuits, Prince George has remained continuously active. Run by the Border Motorsport Club, it today hosts regional and national road-racing categories including GTC and SupaCup, national motorcycle racing, go-karting, super moto, drifting and drag racing, keeping the historic street circuit at the heart of Eastern Cape motorsport more than six decades after it last saw Formula 1.
Frequently asked questions
Did Formula 1 race at East London?+
Yes. The Prince George Circuit hosted the South African Grand Prix through the 1960s, including championship rounds, before the race moved permanently to Kyalami from 1967.
How long is the East London Grand Prix Circuit?+
The current Grand Prix layout, in use since 1959, is 3.920 km (2.436 miles) with 9 turns.
Is the circuit still used for racing today?+
Yes. The Border Motorsport Club runs regional and national events there, including GTC and SupaCup car racing, national motorcycle road racing, karting, super moto, drifting and drag racing.
Why is it called the Prince George Circuit?+
The circuit takes its name from Prince George's Bridge/the surrounding Prince George area of East London where the track is laid out.
Why did Formula 1 leave East London for Kyalami?+
Prince George's short, tight layout was judged too small for the growing speed and size of Formula 1 cars by the mid-1960s, prompting the move to the purpose-built Kyalami circuit from 1967.
Other tracks nearby
- Durban Street Circuit · 466 km · historic circuit (defunct)
- Phakisa Freeway · 583 km · road course & oval
- Red Star Raceway · 780 km · road course
- Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit · 784 km · road course
- Zwartkops Raceway · 805 km · road course
- Killarney International Raceway · 871 km · road course
Facts checked against 3 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-11.