Phakisa Freeway
Phakisa Freeway is the circuit in the Free State goldfields that brought motorcycle Grand Prix racing to South Africa from 1999 to 2004, and it’s the place where Valentino Rossi won first time out on a Yamaha. It also has something you won’t find at any other African track we know of: a banked, Las Vegas-style oval. The bad news is that the racing has stopped, and as of 2026 the venue is waiting on a private investor. Here’s the name, the history, the oval, the lap, the records and what you should know before you go.
Phakisa Freeway at a Glance
Length 4.242 km / 2.636 mi Grand Prix road course
Turns 14 9 rights and 5 lefts, on a 12 m (39 ft) wide track
Oval 2.414 km / 1.5 mi banked up to 12° in the turns
Opened 1999 first motorcycle Grand Prix on October 10, 1999
Location & owner Welkom, Free State publicly owned; a private lease was still unsigned in March 2026
Race lap record 1:33.208 Max Biaggi, Honda RC211V, 2004
Phakisa Freeway, Phakisa Raceway or Goldfields Raceway?
Phakisa is Sesotho for “hurry up,” which is a pretty good name for a racetrack. The official name is Phakisa Freeway, but you’ll see Phakisa Raceway just as often in local news and government documents, and plenty of people simply call it “Welkom,” the way MotoGP fans did in the early 2000s. As far as we could find, it has never carried a sponsor’s name.
If an older South African racer talks about Goldfields Raceway, they mean the track that stood on this same site between Welkom and Odendaalsrus from 1970 until 1997. Phakisa was built in its place, so the two names share a lot of history, but the current road course and the oval are a completely different design.
The land belongs to the public: the venue was built and paid for by the Free State provincial government, and in 2023 the Matjhabeng municipal council approved a long-term lease so a private operator could take it over. As of March 2026, that lease still hadn’t been signed.
Phakisa Freeway History
Phakisa was the Free State’s big bet on motorsport. The province built a modern Grand Prix circuit and an American-style oval on the old Goldfields Raceway site, and for six seasons the world’s top motorcycle racers came to Welkom. When the Grand Prix left after 2004, the venue never found another headline event, and the story since has been about leases, licences and repairs.
- 1970 Goldfields Raceway opens on the site. In the early 1970s it hosts rounds of the South African Formula 1 Championship, and in 1975 Dave Charlton sets its lap record of 1:23.0 in a McLaren M23.
- 1997 Goldfields Raceway closes, two years after it was resurfaced.
- 1998 Construction of Phakisa starts in September, funded by the Free State government. Basil Read leads the building work, with several smaller contractors, and the original budget is about US$14 million.
- 1999 The first national meeting runs in the autumn, and on October 10 the South African motorcycle Grand Prix arrives. Max Biaggi wins the 500cc race for Yamaha, and Valentino Rossi wins in the 250cc class.
- 2000 Garry McCoy wins the 500cc race on a Yamaha.
- 2001 Rossi wins the 500cc race on a Honda NSR500 and sets the class lap record of 1:35.508.
- 2002 Tohru Ukawa wins the first MotoGP-era race here on a Honda. Tobacco advertising is banned a week before the race.
- 2003 The start is delayed almost an hour after an oil spill, and Sete Gibernau wins on a Honda. A young Dani Pedrosa wins the 125cc race.
- 2004 On April 18, Rossi wins his first race for Yamaha from pole, 0.210 seconds ahead of Biaggi, ending Honda’s 10-race winning streak. A funding dispute between the province and the series organizer means it’s the last Grand Prix at Phakisa.
- 2010 The oval finally gets a race: the Free State 500, run by the American Speed Association with imported stock cars and won by John Mickel. It’s the only race ever held on the oval.
- 2014 A World Superbike round is announced but never happens. The Extreme Racing festival holds a round at Phakisa instead.
- 2023 In March the Matjhabeng council approves a long-term lease, and a tender for a private operator follows. In June a local report says Motorsport South Africa has suspended the track licence over maintenance, with resurfacing estimated at R12 million.
- 2024 On January 17, Investchem Chemical Logistics is named preferred bidder, with a R100 million investment plan. In September the Phakisa 400, a round of the South African Rally-Raid Championship, is based at the raceway.
- 2026 A March 31 statement from the opposition DA in the Free State says the lease is still unsigned, the site is being looted and the electricity has been cut off. No race meetings have been announced for the circuit.
The Oval: Africa’s Banked Speedway
Phakisa’s signature isn’t a corner, it’s the oval wrapped around the road course. It was built with American open-wheel racing in mind and copies the shape of Las Vegas Motor Speedway, with banked turns and a kinked front stretch. The province’s development agency describes it as the only oval speedway in Africa, and we haven’t found another one on the continent.
2.414 km / 1.5 mi
Oval length
A D-shaped speedway with a tri-oval, modeled on Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
12°
Banking in the turns
Easing to 9° on the tri-oval and 3° on the back stretch, so it’s fast but not a steep superspeedway.
1 race
Ever held on it
The Free State 500 for stock cars in 2010, won by John Mickel.
The American series never came, though, and the oval has hosted exactly one race. The two tracks are tangled together: the Grand Prix circuit uses the oval’s pit lane as its back straight and crosses the oval twice, and there’s also a roughly 2.4 km “Up and Down” layout that links parts of the road course and the oval. The photo above shows the main straight and pit wall, taken in 2014.
Phakisa Freeway Track Guide: Corner by Corner
The Grand Prix circuit is twisty and technical, with short straights and very little elevation change, only about 6.3 m (21 ft) around the lap. Riders who raced here in the Grand Prix years talked about sand and heat making the surface slippery and hard on tires. Official figures count 14 turns; the map below groups them into 11 numbered corners and complexes, and the corner names come from that map. We follow its numbering.
Start
Start/Finish Straight
The pit straight runs parallel to the back straight, inside the oval. It’s short by Grand Prix standards, so the lap never really gives you a breather.
1–2
Turns 1 and 2
A tight turn at the end of the short pit straight, then the run back across the infield. Spanish rider Héctor Faubel described Turn 2 as a fast, bumpy, downhill left, which is about as dramatic as this flat track gets.
3
Turn 3
The corner that points you out across the oval and into the long loop at the far end of the site.
4
The Boot
The far tip of the loop, a tight turn that sends you straight back the way you came. It’s one of the slowest points on the lap.
5
Castle Corner
The return leg’s first proper corner. A clean exit matters, because the next stretch leads back over the oval.
6
Turn 6
Where the road course crosses the oval again on its way to the outer edge of the site.
7–8
Uncini 1 and Uncini 2
A pair of corners at the outer edge of the site, beside the oval, that swing you onto the back straight.
Straight
Back Straight
The longest straight on the lap at about 413 m (1,355 ft). It doubles as the oval’s pit lane.
9–11
Turn 9, Giel’s Kop and Turn 11
The final sequence loops around the end of the infield through Giel’s Kop and brings you back onto the start/finish straight.
Phakisa Freeway Lap Records
Phakisa’s records all come from the motorcycle Grand Prix years, and with no major racing since, they’ve stood for more than two decades. We couldn’t find a published car lap record for the current road course, or any official record for the oval, so we’ve left those out rather than guess.
1:33.208
Outright race lap record
Max Biaggi on a Honda RC211V during the 2004 MotoGP race, the last Grand Prix held here.
1:35.508
500cc two-stroke
Valentino Rossi on a Honda NSR500 in 2001, the year he won the last 500cc world title.
1:35.593
250cc
Sebastián Porto on an Aprilia at the 2004 Grand Prix.
1:40.711
125cc
Roberto Locatelli on an Aprilia, also in 2004.
Races and Events at Phakisa Freeway
Phakisa’s big years were all about motorcycles. Since the Grand Prix left, it has seen a stock car race on the oval, national and festival meetings, rally raids and plenty of club racing, but nothing on a regular international calendar. If you want to see international racing in South Africa today, our Kyalami guide covers it, and our Dakar Rally guide explains the world of rally raids.
1999–2004
South African Motorcycle Grand Prix
MotoGP 500cc, 250cc and 125cc
Six Grands Prix with winners including Biaggi, Rossi, Ukawa and Gibernau. The 2004 race, Rossi’s Yamaha debut win, is the one everyone remembers. The bike shown is his 2004 Yamaha in a museum display.
2010
Free State 500
Oval racing Stock cars
The only race ever run on the oval, organized by the American Speed Association with stock cars imported from the US. John Mickel won. The photo shows the same era of American stock car at Texas Motor Speedway.
September 2024
Phakisa 400
South African Rally-Raid Championship Cross-country
Not every event here uses the tarmac. The 2024 Phakisa 400 used the raceway as its headquarters and service point, with the stages out in the surrounding countryside. The car shown is a Toyota Hilux of the kind that races in this championship.
Club events
Welkom Motocross Club
Motocross Club racing
The local motocross club has been based at the venue since 1996, using a dirt track on the property. The photo is from a club race at another South African track.
Phakisa Freeway Race Calendar: 2026 and 2027
This is the short section of the guide, and that’s the honest answer: we couldn’t find any race meetings scheduled at Phakisa in 2026, and nothing has been announced for 2027. The last event we could confirm was the Phakisa 400 rally raid in September 2024, which was based at the raceway. If the investor lease is signed and the track is repaired and relicensed, we’ll add dates here as soon as they’re official.
2026 season
| Dates | Event | Series | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full season | No circuit race meetings announced at Phakisa | National and club racing | None scheduled |
2027 season
| Dates | Event | Series | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TBA | Return of racing, depending on the lease and track repairs | National and club racing | Date TBA |
Phakisa Freeway Weather by Season
Welkom sits on the Highveld at about 1,350 m (4,430 ft), so it’s sunny most of the year, with hot, stormy summers and dry winters that are warm by day and freezing at night. The seasons are flipped from North America and Europe. The figures below are 1991–2020 climate normals for Bloemfontein, about 140 km (87 mi) south at almost the same altitude, from NOAA and the South African Weather Service.
30–31°C / 86–87°F
Summer · Dec–Feb
Hot days, with highs of about 30–31°C (86–87°F) and lows of 14–15°C (57–59°F). This is the rainy season, with 71–92 mm (2.8–3.6 in) a month, mostly in afternoon thunderstorms.
21–28°C / 70–82°F
Autumn · Mar–May
Highs drop from about 28°C (82°F) to 21°C (70°F), and nights cool fast, from 12°C (54°F) to 2°C (36°F). Rain falls from about 77 mm (3.0 in) in March to 19 mm (0.7 in) in May.
18–21°C / 65–70°F
Winter · Jun–Aug
Sunny and dry, with highs of 18–21°C (65–70°F), but nights drop to around −2 to 0°C (28–33°F), so expect frost. Rain is only 5–13 mm (0.2–0.5 in) a month.
25–29°C / 77–84°F
Spring · Sep–Nov
Highs climb from about 25°C (77°F) to 29°C (84°F) and lows from 5°C (40°F) to 11°C (53°F). It’s dry in September, and the storms return in October and November, with 12–65 mm (0.5–2.6 in) a month.
Visiting Phakisa Freeway: Getting There and Tips
Here’s the important part first: with no events scheduled and the site reported as unsecured and without power, Phakisa isn’t a place to visit on a whim in 2026. Only go for an organized event, and check that it’s actually going ahead before you make the drive.
Tickets
There’s no ticket office or official price list right now, because there’s nothing to sell tickets for. When events do run, they’re organized by clubs or promoters, who sell tickets themselves.
Getting there
The circuit is just off the R70 between Welkom and Odendaalsrus in the Free State goldfields. Welkom’s airport has no scheduled flights, so most people drive. From Johannesburg’s OR Tambo airport it’s roughly 280 km (175 mi), or about three hours, and Bloemfontein is about 140 km (87 mi) to the south.
What it was built for
At its peak, Phakisa could hold about 60,000 people on grandstands and grass banks, with 20 corporate suites and parking for more than 15,000 cars. Much of that is still standing, but the provincial tourism authority has reported broken cameras, a rough track surface and cracked buildings, so don’t expect Grand Prix-era facilities.
Tips
Bring sunscreen and a hat whatever the season; at this altitude the sun is strong even in winter. Summer events can be interrupted by afternoon thunderstorms, and winter mornings are cold enough for a proper jacket.
Can You Drive Phakisa Freeway?
Not easily, right now. Phakisa used to be a busy testing and track-day venue, but we couldn’t confirm any current track days or driving schools there, and the track licence was reported suspended in 2023. The provincial tourism authority has listed a hire tariff of R34,406.35 for 2023/24 for clubs and organizers that want to rent the track, but whether the circuit can be used depends on its condition and licence.
Motocross riders have more luck: the Welkom Motocross Club has been based at the venue since 1996. Contact the club about practice and race days.
On screen, Phakisa is one of the three starting circuits in MotoGP: Ultimate Racing Technology 2 from 2003, which is the only official game we could confirm it in. If you want to drive a current South African circuit in a sim, Kyalami is in Assetto Corsa Competizione.
Talk Phakisa With Other Enthusiasts
Were you on the banks for the Grand Prix, racing at Goldfields Raceway or riding with the motocross club? Share your stories, ask questions and keep up with what happens next at Phakisa in the AutoGathering community.
- Memories of the Welkom MotoGP
- Rossi’s 2004 win
- The Phakisa oval
- Will Phakisa reopen?
- Free State motorsport
- Motocross in Welkom
- Rally raids in the Free State
- South African racing history
Phakisa Freeway FAQ
Is Phakisa Freeway still open?
Not for regular racing. The track licence was reported suspended in 2023, and as of March 2026 the lease to a private investor was still unsigned, the site was reported looted and the power was cut off. No race meetings were scheduled in 2026.
What does Phakisa mean?
Phakisa is Sesotho for “hurry up.”
How long is Phakisa Freeway?
The Grand Prix road course is 4.242 km (2.636 miles) long with 14 turns. There’s also a 3.199 km (1.988-mile) short circuit and a 2.414 km (1.5-mile) banked oval.
Did MotoGP race at Phakisa Freeway?
Yes. The South African motorcycle Grand Prix ran at Phakisa every year from 1999 to 2004. The premier-class winners were Biaggi, McCoy, Rossi, Ukawa, Gibernau and Rossi again.
Where did Valentino Rossi win his first race for Yamaha?
At Phakisa Freeway, in the 2004 South African Grand Prix on April 18. He won from pole, 0.210 seconds ahead of Max Biaggi.
What is the lap record at Phakisa Freeway?
The outright race lap record is 1:33.208, set by Max Biaggi on a Honda RC211V in the 2004 MotoGP race.
Is there an oval at Phakisa?
Yes. Phakisa has a 2.414 km (1.5-mile) D-shaped oval modeled on Las Vegas Motor Speedway, with up to 12° of banking. It has hosted only one race, the Free State 500 for stock cars in 2010.
Where is Phakisa Freeway?
Just off the R70 between Welkom and Odendaalsrus in the Free State, South Africa. It’s about 280 km (175 miles) by road from Johannesburg’s OR Tambo airport.
Explore More Racing Circuits
Phakisa Freeway is one of 8 venues in our African racing directory. For Kyalami, the Midrand circuit that took over the South African Formula 1 Grand Prix in 1967 and is about three hours north of Welkom, see our Kyalami guide, and for another track that hosted the South African Grand Prix, read about the Prince George Circuit in East London.
Photo credits
- Header image: Box Repsol, CC BY 2.0, cropped and resized.
- Phakisa Freeway raceway near Welkom, photographed in…: Bruce Paulmac, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped and resized.
- Track map of the Phakisa Freeway road…: Will Pittenger, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped and resized.
- A NASCAR Busch Series stock car of…: Stacey Pardini, Public domain, cropped and resized.
- Riders racing pit bikes at a motocross…: No machine-readable author provided. CorneliusA assumed (based on…, Public domain, cropped and resized.
- Valentino Rossi’s 2004 Yamaha YZR-M1 in an…: Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK, CC BY 2.0, cropped and resized.
- A Toyota Hilux Dakar rally-raid car on…: Jakub "Flyz1" Maciejewski, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.