South Africa is set to enter a new chapter in international endurance racing when Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit hosts the Michelin 24H Series for the first time in January 2027.
The event, scheduled for 8 to 10 January, will mark the first appearance of the Michelin 24H Series on African soil. It will also be the first international 24-hour race staged in South Africa under the series banner.
The race was originally scheduled as the Michelin 24H Dubai. However, Creventic, the Netherlands-based promoter behind the endurance championship, has revised its winter calendar amid continued uncertainty in the Gulf region.
According to Creventic, the situation has affected logistics, transport planning and operating costs. Following discussions with venue partners, the organiser selected Kyalami as the new destination for the event.
The move brings one of the championship’s established endurance races to a circuit with a long history in international motorsport.
Kyalami brings a demanding circuit to the 24H Series
Kyalami is located in Midrand between Johannesburg and Pretoria and is one of South Africa’s best-known racing venues.
The circuit has previously hosted Formula One’s World Championship on 20 occasions and underwent a major redevelopment approximately a decade ago. It now features a 4.52-kilometre FIA Grade 2 circuit and modern facilities designed to accommodate major international racing events.
The track’s characteristics are expected to provide a significant challenge during a race lasting an entire day.
Its layout includes elevation changes, blind crests and fast-flowing corners, requiring drivers and teams to manage both outright pace and long-term vehicle reliability.
Kyalami also has 40 secure pit garages and the Jody Scheckter Paddock, providing teams with dedicated areas for race preparation and support.
Creventic said the venue’s facilities, organisation and technical characteristics made it a suitable location for the championship’s first African event.
The race will also represent the return of international endurance competition to Kyalami after 2023.
The circuit has a history of endurance racing, including the well-known Kyalami 9 Hour. However, organisers confirmed that the January 2027 event will be the first international 24-hour race hosted in South Africa.
Dubai race relocated as Africa joins the championship calendar
The decision to move the event from Dubai represents a significant change to the Michelin 24H Series’ established winter programme.
The Dubai 24-hour race has been an important fixture for Creventic for two decades. The promoter said changing the Middle East schedule was difficult, but the move to Kyalami creates an opportunity to expand the championship into a new continent.
The 2027 Kyalami event is already listed on the official 24H Series calendar, with the race weekend running from 8 to 10 January. Registration is open for teams competing in categories including GT3, GTX, 992, GT4 and TCE.
South Africa’s Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has welcomed the announcement, describing the race as a significant international event for Midrand and the country.
For Kyalami, the event adds another major international endurance competition to a venue with an established global motorsport history.
For the Michelin 24H Series, meanwhile, the January race represents its first visit to Africa and provides teams with a new circuit and racing environment at the start of the 2027 season.
With the event now confirmed on the official calendar, preparations will shift towards team entries, track activities and the logistics required to stage a full international 24-hour endurance race in South Africa.