Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit

Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit at a glance

Location

Midrand, Gauteng

Type

road course

Length

4.529 km (2.814 mi)

Turns

16

Direction

clockwise

Surface

asphalt

Opened

1961

Owner

Toby Venter / Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit (Pty) Ltd

Capacity

100,000

Address

Cnr R55 & Allandale Road

Phone

+27 11 466 0204

Website

kyalamigrandprixcircuit.com

Track map and layout

Kyalami's current 4.529 km, 16-turn layout dates from a 2015 rebuild that reused much of the old circuit's footprint after decades of shortened, reprofiled versions. The lap runs clockwise from a long pit straight into a tight opening complex, before sweeping through a fast middle section and a technical infield that rewards a well-set-up chassis. Two long straights give overtaking chances into hard-braking corners, while the closing sequence winds back past the paddock buildings to the front straight. The FIA Grade 2 certification reflects modern run-off and barrier standards built into the rebuild, and the circuit retains much of the elevation and character that made the original 1960s-80s track a driver favourite.

Named corners and sections

• Crowthorne Corner. The tight right-hander at the end of the pit straight on the original (pre-1989) layout; one of Kyalami's best-known names from its F1 era.
• Barbecue Bend. A fast sweeping corner from the classic 1961-1988 configuration, named for a nearby braai/picnic spot used by spectators.
• The Kink. A high-speed, barely-there direction change on the old back straight of the original circuit.

Configurations

Events and race weekends

Kyalami's headline date is the Kyalami 9 Hour, revived in 2019 (after decades off the calendar) as part of the Intercontinental GT Challenge and now a fixture drawing international GT3 entries alongside South African touring car, sports car and superbike series. The circuit also runs national championship rounds for the South African Endurance Series, WPMC/MSA-sanctioned racing, and hosts manufacturer driving experience days (BMW, Audi) on its skidpan and off-road facilities. South Africa's government has backed a bid to return Formula 1 to Kyalami, with an FIA Grade 1 upgrade approved and a realistic target of 2028-29 rather than the earlier-mooted 2027; nothing is confirmed on the F1 calendar as of late 2026.

Getting there and parking

Kyalami sits in Midrand, roughly midway between Johannesburg and Pretoria, just off the R55 and close to the N1 highway. OR Tambo International is the nearest major airport, about 30-40 minutes' drive depending on traffic. Public transport to the circuit itself is very limited — there is no direct rail or bus service to the gates — so most visitors drive or use a rideshare/taxi from Johannesburg, Pretoria or the airport.

• OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) · about 35 min drive
• Lanseria International Airport (HLA) · about 25 min drive

Parking

On-site parking is available for event days, usually included with or purchased alongside tickets; arrive early for the Kyalami 9 Hour, when local roads around Allandale Road get congested.

Public transport is limited in this part of Gauteng — book a rideshare (Uber/Bolt) or hire a car rather than relying on buses or trains to reach the circuit.

Hotels and camping near Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit

Most visitors base themselves in Sandton or Midrand itself, both a short drive from the circuit and well stocked with hotels ranging from business chains to boutique options. Pretoria is a viable alternative for those splitting time between Gauteng's two main cities. There is no trackside camping culture at Kyalami; overnight stays are almost always in nearby hotel accommodation rather than on-site.

Where to look

Midrand (closest, convenient for the circuit), Sandton (wider choice of upmarket hotels, 25-30 minutes away) or Pretoria (35-45 minutes, useful if combining with other Gauteng plans).

Track days, driving experiences and lap records

Kyalami runs manufacturer driving experiences (BMW and Audi driving academies) using its main circuit, dynamic handling area and skidpan, alongside club-level track days and testing for South African racing teams. Members of the public can book seat time through these manufacturer programmes or through local car clubs and driving schools that hire the circuit; there is no single standing public track-day operator equivalent to those at some European circuits.

Who runs days here

• BMW Driving Experiencecar
• Audi Driving Experiencecar

Lap records

Spectator guide

Kyalami's grandstands and the Jody Scheckter Paddock viewing deck give close-up views of the pit straight and opening corners, while the Sarel van der Merwe Roof Terrace offers an elevated vantage point over much of the lap. General admission areas around the infield allow fans to move between several viewing spots over a race weekend such as the Kyalami 9 Hour.

Seating

Grandstands and the Jody Scheckter Paddock area line the main straight; the Sarel van der Merwe Roof Terrace gives an elevated overview.

Best places to watch

The roof terrace and paddock viewing deck are the best all-round vantage points for following multiple corners on a single ticket.

Weather

• Nov (Kyalami 9 Hour): warm and mostly dry, highs around 25-28°C with a chance of afternoon Highveld thunderstorms
• Jun-Aug: cool, dry Highveld winter, days around 17-20°C, cold nights

History of Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit

From farmland to Grand Prix venue

Kyalami opened on 4 November 1961 on the Highveld north of Johannesburg, designed by Harry Pierce and Dick Bremner as a fast, flowing circuit at altitude. It quickly became South African motorsport's home, and from 1967 to 1985 it hosted the Formula 1 South African Grand Prix almost every year, drawing the biggest names of the era. Niki Lauda won three times at Kyalami, and Jody Scheckter remains the only South African driver to win his home Grand Prix there, in 1975.

Triumph and tragedy

Kyalami's F1 era included one of the sport's darkest days: the 1977 race saw driver Tom Pryce and marshal Frederick Jansen van Vuuren killed in a collision after a fire marshal ran across the track. The circuit also built a reputation among drivers for its flowing, high-speed original layout, run at altitude that rewarded strong engines. After a first F1 hiatus, the race returned for two further editions in 1992 and 1993 before the promoter's bankruptcy ended Kyalami's Grand Prix run.

Rebuilds and a modern revival

The circuit was substantially reconfigured in 1989, shortening and reshaping the lap, and went through further changes in the 1990s and 2000s. Toby Venter bought Kyalami at auction in 2014 for R205 million and invested roughly R100 million in a full rebuild, reopening in 2015 with today's 4.529 km, 16-turn layout to FIA Grade 2 standard. The rebuilt circuit revived the Kyalami 9 Hour in 2019 as part of the Intercontinental GT Challenge, restoring the venue's international profile after a long gap.

Chasing Formula 1 again

Since the mid-2020s, Kyalami has pursued a return to the Formula 1 calendar with South African government backing. The circuit secured FIA Grade 1 certification and cabinet-level support for a bid, with upgrade budgets of roughly R83-167 million approved. An initial target of 2027 was ruled out as unrealistic, with officials instead pointing to 2028 or 2029 as the more likely window for South Africa's first Grand Prix since 1993 — still unconfirmed as of late 2026.

Frequently asked questions

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