Prince George Circuit
The Prince George Circuit, better known locally as the East London Grand Prix Circuit, is where South Africa’s Grand Prix story began. The first South African Grand Prix ran on East London’s seaside roads in 1934, and the current 3.920 km track hosted Formula 1 in the 1960s, including the 1962 race that settled the World Championship between Graham Hill and Jim Clark. Today it’s a club-run circuit right by the Indian Ocean. Here’s the name, the history, the corners, the records, what races there and how to visit.
Prince George Circuit at a Glance
Length 3.920 km / 2.436 mi the Grand Prix circuit, in use since 1959
Corners 9 turns from Potters Pass to Beacon Bend
Racing since December 1934 the first South African Grand Prix, on public roads
Grand Prix years 1934–1966 South African Grand Prix in 1934, 1936–39 and 1960–66
Location & operator East London, by the sea run by the Border Motorsport Club
Race lap record 1:24.300 John Love, Lotus 49, 1968
Prince George Circuit or the East London Grand Prix Circuit?
Both, and you’ll hear the second one far more often today. The Prince George name goes back to the 1930s: according to a local history society’s account of the early races, the track was named the Prince George Circuit with the permission of the Duke of Kent, Prince George, who was visiting South Africa at the time. It stuck to the revised course used from 1936, and it’s the name you’ll see in most Formula 1 records.
Locals and the South African racing press usually just call it the East London Grand Prix Circuit, or simply “the Grand Prix circuit.” In the 1990s, Mercedes-Benz, which builds cars in East London, sponsored the track and it ran for a while as the Mercedes-Benz Circuit. It’s run by the Border Motorsport Club (BMSC), a members’ club that leases the land from Buffalo City Metro.
Prince George Circuit History
East London hosted South Africa’s first Grand Prix. The early races ran on public roads along the coast and drew huge crowds, an estimated 82,000 in 1936. After the war, the city built a shorter permanent circuit on part of the old course, and for most of the 1960s it hosted the South African Grand Prix, before the race outgrew it and moved to Kyalami.
- 1934 On December 27, the first South African Grand Prix runs on a road course of about 24 km, starting and finishing on the seafront. Whitney Straight wins in a Maserati.
- 1936–1939 Potters Pass is added so the course no longer runs through the West Bank township, cutting the lap to about 18.6 km. This version is the Prince George Circuit, and it draws big crowds and European stars such as Bernd Rosemeyer and Dick Seaman. Luigi Villoresi wins in 1939, the last race before World War II.
- 1950s Building East London’s airport cuts the old course, so racing moves to a street circuit around the Esplanade.
- 1959 The current 3.920 km circuit opens, reusing part of the old Prince George course and running across a former rifle range by the sea.
- 1960 The South African Grand Prix returns. Paul Frère wins in January, and Stirling Moss wins a second race in December in a Porsche.
- 1961 Jim Clark wins the non-championship South African Grand Prix in a Lotus.
- 1962 On December 29, the South African Grand Prix counts toward the Formula 1 World Championship for the first time. Clark leads from pole but retires on lap 62 of 82 with an oil leak, and Graham Hill wins for BRM to take the title.
- 1963 Clark wins the December Grand Prix in a Lotus.
- 1965 Clark wins again on January 1, in the opening round of the 1965 season. It’s also Jackie Stewart’s World Championship debut.
- 1966 The last Grand Prix here, on January 1, is a non-championship race won by Mike Spence. From 1967 the South African Grand Prix moves to Kyalami.
- 1968 John Love sets the circuit’s outright lap record, 1:24.300, in a Lotus 49 in the Border 100.
- 2014 The Border Motorsport Club announces a new 20-year lease from Buffalo City Metro, along with a proposed R620-million redevelopment plan.
- 2025 The National Extreme Festival and the Toyota GR Cup race at East London in July.
- 2026 Motorsport South Africa raises safety concerns, and the August National Extreme Festival round moves to Aldo Scribante Raceway in Gqeberha. The club switches its affiliation to WOMZA (World of Motorsport ZA), and racing returns to the circuit on October 17.
Potters Pass and the Track by the Sea
What makes East London different is where it is. The circuit sits in a natural bowl right next to the Indian Ocean, with the Beach Straight running along the coast, so spectators get an amphitheater view and drivers get sea air, wind and sometimes mist. It’s also quick: one driver’s account of the 2025 Toyota GR Cup round called it the fastest track in the country.
220 km/h
Potters Pass
The first corner, taken at around 220 km/h (137 mph) in quick cars. It’s known for its lack of camber.
1936
Racing roots
Potters Pass dates back to the 1936 Prince George course, so you’re driving through a piece of the prewar Grand Prix route.
Public road
Part-time racetrack
Part of the lap between Beacon Bend and Cocobana Corner is public road, which is why the circuit can’t be fully closed off between events.
The corner everyone talks about is Potters Pass, the fast first turn at the end of the main straight. It was built in the 1930s to steer the old Grand Prix course around the West Bank township. In 2026, a Motorsport South Africa safety committee proposed a gravel trap at Potters Pass and a chicane on the main straight, and local racers started a petition against the changes.
Prince George Circuit Track Guide: Corner by Corner
The 3.920 km lap is simple on paper: long straights, a couple of hairpins and a twisty infield section. In practice it’s fast and open to the wind off the ocean. The corner names and descriptions below come from drivers’ accounts of the lap; turn numbers follow the map.
Turn 1
Potters Pass
A fast right-hander at the end of the main straight, taken at around 220 km/h. It has very little camber, so it rewards commitment and punishes mistakes.
Turn 2
Rifle Bend
A flat-out kink named after the old rifle range the circuit was built on. You arrive close to 220 km/h and have to brake hard for what comes next.
Turn 3
Cocobana Corner
A tight hairpin and one of the slowest points on the lap, at roughly 60 km/h. A good exit sets up the run along the coast.
Beach Straight
Beach Straight and Butts Bend
The flat-out run along the sea, ending at Butts Bend, which leads into the infield.
Turn 5
The Esses
A sequence of quick direction changes, also called the Complex. It’s the twistiest part of the lap.
Turn 6
Cox’s Corner
A slower corner at the end of the Esses. It was freshly resurfaced by 2025, and drivers found it very slippery in the wet.
Turn 7
The Sweep
A fast sweeping bend taken flat out in most cars, leading onto the back straight.
Turn 8
Beacon Bend
The last corner, a hairpin after a big braking zone. It’s the slowest on the circuit and leads onto the long main straight back to Potters Pass.
Prince George Circuit Lap Records
East London’s outright record is older than most of the people who race here now. It comes from the days of South Africa’s own Formula 1 championship, and the touring cars that visited in the 2020s still haven’t beaten it. Class records can change at club meetings, so check with the Border Motorsport Club for the latest list.
1:24.300
Outright lap record
John Love set it in a Lotus 49 at the 1968 Border 100, a round of the South African Formula 1 championship.
1:25.200
Formula 1 Grand Prix
Jack Brabham’s fastest lap in his Brabham at the non-championship 1966 South African Grand Prix, the last Grand Prix held here.
1:25.502
GTC touring cars
Saood Variawa’s lap in a Toyota Corolla at the 2022 East London round of the Global Touring Car Championship.
1:28.462
SupaCup
Jeffrey Kruger’s lap in a Volkswagen Polo at the same 2022 meeting.
Races and Events at the Prince George Circuit
The big-league days are history: the last Formula 1 race here was in 1966. Today the calendar is mostly regional club racing, with national series visiting when the track is cleared to host them. If you want to see South Africa’s current Grand Prix circuit, our Kyalami guide covers it. The photos below show cars of the same types, taken at other tracks.
1934–1966
South African Grand Prix
Formula 1 History
East London hosted the South African Grand Prix in 1934, 1936–39 and 1960–66. The 1962, 1963 and 1965 races counted for the World Championship, and Graham Hill clinched his first title here in 1962.
July 2025
National Extreme Festival
National racing Touring cars
South Africa’s national racing festival, with touring cars and one-make series, visited in July 2025 alongside the Toyota GR Cup. The 2026 East London round moved to Gqeberha over track safety concerns.
October 2026
Border club racing
Club racing Historics & Classics
The Border Motorsport Club’s own meetings mix Modified Saloons, Historics & Classics and motorcycles. Racing returned to the circuit on October 17, 2026, with more than 30 entries.
Prince George Circuit Race Calendar: 2026 and 2027
2026 was a disrupted year for East London. The circuit was closed for racing for part of the year after Motorsport South Africa ruled it unsafe, and the club’s national round had to run 300 km away in Gqeberha. Racing came back in October under the WOMZA banner. Dates marked TBA haven’t been announced; check the Border Motorsport Club’s social channels before you travel.
2026 season
| Dates | Event | Series | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 15 | Border’s National Extreme Festival round, moved to Aldo Scribante Raceway in Gqeberha | National racing | Done |
| Oct 17 | Club race meeting: Modified Saloons, Historics & Classics and motorcycles | Club racing | Done |
| Nov–Dec | Further Border Motorsport Club meetings | Club racing | Date TBA |
2027 season
| Dates | Event | Series | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TBA | Border Motorsport Club race meetings | Club racing | Date TBA |
| TBA | Return of national series to East London | National racing | Date TBA |
Prince George Circuit Weather by Season
East London has a mild coastal climate with no real cold season, and the seasons are flipped from North America and Europe. Rain falls year-round but peaks in spring and early autumn. Temperatures below are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for East London; rainfall figures are South African Weather Service averages.
25–26°C / 77–79°F
Summer · Dec–Feb
Warm, with highs of about 25–26°C (77–79°F) and lows of 17–19°C (63–66°F). Expect 63–92 mm (2.5–3.6 in) of rain a month.
23–26°C / 74–78°F
Autumn · Mar–May
Highs ease from about 26°C (78°F) to 23°C (74°F) and lows from 18°C (64°F) to 13°C (55°F). March is one of the wettest months at about 105 mm (4.1 in); May is much drier at about 52 mm (2 in).
22°C / 71°F
Winter · Jun–Aug
Mild for winter: highs around 22°C (71°F), lows of 10–11°C (50–52°F) and the driest stretch of the year, at 40–78 mm (1.6–3.1 in) a month. Mornings can be cold, wet and misty by the sea.
22–23°C / 71–74°F
Spring · Sep–Nov
Highs of about 22–23°C (71–74°F) and lows of 12–15°C (54–60°F). This is the wettest season, with 80–110 mm (3.1–4.3 in) a month, peaking in November.
Visiting the Prince George Circuit: Tickets, Getting There and Tips
A race day at East London is a small, friendly affair. Crowds are a long way from the 90,000 who watched in 1962, which means you can walk the banks, get close to the cars and chat to drivers in the paddock.
Tickets
For club meetings, you pay at the main gate. At the October 2026 meeting, entry was R50 per person, with gates opening at 7 a.m. and the first race at 10 a.m. Bigger national events cost more, so check the event details before you go.
Getting there
The circuit is on the coast southwest of East London’s city center, and the main entrance is on Potters Pass. King Phalo Airport, with flights to South Africa’s major cities, is less than 10 minutes away by car. Plan on driving or getting a ride to the track.
Tips
The track sits in a natural bowl, so the banks give you a good view of a lot of the lap from one spot. Bring a windbreaker and sunscreen whatever the season, because the ocean wind can be strong and the sun is fierce. After racing, the beachfront and Esplanade are only a short drive away.
Can You Drive the Prince George Circuit?
Maybe, but you’ll need to ask. Unlike some South African tracks, East London doesn’t publish a regular public track-day program that we could confirm, and part of the lap is public road, so the circuit is only closed off for organized events. The Border Motorsport Club is the place to start: it can tell you how to get a competition licence and enter club racing.
There’s also a kart circuit in the middle of the main track, with its own pit and paddock, which is a much easier way to get started.
On screen, we couldn’t confirm an official version of the Prince George Circuit in any current racing game or sim. If you want to drive a classic South African Grand Prix track virtually, Kyalami is in Assetto Corsa Competizione.
Talk East London With Other Enthusiasts
Heading to a Border race meeting, racing a Modified Saloon or just remembering the 1960s Grand Prix days? Share what you know, ask questions and meet other Eastern Cape car people in the AutoGathering community.
- East London race meetings
- Border club racing
- Potters Pass and Beacon Bend
- 1962 South African Grand Prix
- Jim Clark at East London
- Historic racing in South Africa
- Karting in East London
- Getting started in motorsport
Prince George Circuit FAQ
How long is the Prince George Circuit?
The current circuit is 3.920 km (2.436 miles) long, with nine turns. It opened in 1959. The 1934 road course was about 24 km, and the 1936–39 version about 18.6 km.
Where is the Prince George Circuit?
On the coast in East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa, with its main entrance on Potters Pass. King Phalo Airport is less than 10 minutes away by car.
Why is it called the Prince George Circuit?
The track was named after Prince George, Duke of Kent, who gave permission for the name while visiting South Africa in the 1930s. Today most people call it the East London Grand Prix Circuit.
Did Formula 1 race at East London?
Yes. The South African Grand Prix ran here from 1960 to 1966, and the 1962, 1963 and 1965 races counted for the World Championship. Graham Hill won in 1962 and Jim Clark in 1963 and 1965.
What happened at the 1962 South African Grand Prix?
It decided the title. Jim Clark needed to win and was leading when an oil leak forced him out on lap 62 of 82. Graham Hill won for BRM and became World Champion.
What is the lap record at the Prince George Circuit?
The outright record is 1:24.300, set by John Love in a Lotus 49 at the 1968 Border 100.
Who runs the East London Grand Prix Circuit?
The Border Motorsport Club, which leases the circuit from Buffalo City Metro. In 2026 the club switched its affiliation from Motorsport South Africa to WOMZA.
Is there racing at East London in 2026?
Yes, after a break. The August national round moved to Gqeberha over safety concerns, but club racing returned to the circuit on October 17, 2026.
Explore More Racing Circuits
The Prince George Circuit is one of 8 venues in our African racing directory. For the track that took over the South African Grand Prix, see our Kyalami guide, and for another club-run circuit with 1960s Grand Prix history, read our Killarney guide.
Photo credits
- Header image: South African Tourism from South Africa, CC BY 2.0, cropped and resized.
- Rocky Indian Ocean shoreline at East London,…: South African Tourism from South Africa, CC BY 2.0, cropped and resized.
- Map of the 3.920 km Prince George…: Will Pittenger, Public domain, cropped and resized.
- Graham Hill in his BRM at the…: Ing. L. de Voogd, CC BY 3.0, cropped and resized.
- A Volkswagen Polo Vivo racing in the…: Gerald Ferreira, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped and resized.
- David Piper’s Ferrari P sports racer at…: The original uploader was Dawidl at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 2.5, cropped and resized.