F1
Rwanda officially bids to host F1 Grand Prix
© Xavi Bonilla / DPPI
La Formula 1 is one step closer to a return to Africa, more than 30 years after the last Grand Prix held on the continent (South African Grand Prix in 1993). This Friday, during the FIA General Assembly held in the Rwandan capital Kigali, the President of the Republic of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, officially announced his country's candidacy to host an F1 Grand Prix in the coming years.
“I'm happy to formally announce that Rwanda is bidding to bring the thrill of racing back to Africa by hosting the Formula 1 Grand Prix.”
President Kagame assured that the discussions towards hosting Formula 1 in Africa are progressing well. #RBANews pic.twitter.com/hYg8qxOGDj
— Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA) (@rbarwanda) December 13, 2024
“I am pleased to officially announce that Rwanda is bidding to bring the thrill of motorsport back to Africa by hosting a Formula 1 Grand Prix, he said at the FIA general assembly. Many thanks to Stefano Domenicali and his entire team for the great progress in our discussions so far. (…) Together we will build something we can be proud of.”
What date for a Grand Prix in Rwanda?
An announcement that is far from surprising since the discipline has been discussing with local authorities for several months about the creation and organization of a Rwanda Grand Prix. "They are serious. They have presented a good plan and we have a meeting with them at the end of September. It will be an ongoing project.", said Stefano Domenicali, president of Formula 1, in August. The country of 14 million inhabitants is in full economic growth and is increasingly relying on its soft power in the sporting world in order to restore its image, thirty years after the terrible genocide of the Tutsis in Rwanda. This summer, Lewis Hamilton had confirmed that he was working behind the scenes to bring Formula 1 back to Africa, whether in Rwanda or South Africa.
“It’s time for Africa to be part of the F1 calendar, said Christian Gakwaya, president of the Automobile Club of Rwanda, in comments relayed by Motor Sport Magazine this summer. Rwanda, as a country, is committed and ready to host a Formula 1 race. We are working within the formal framework of F1 and we are serious about our bid. (…) With greater visa freedom and an airline serving many destinations, Rwanda is the ideal location for the return of Formula 1 to Africa. »
At present, no indication has been given regarding the date of a potential arrival on the calendar, nor the possible host venue or the circuit that could organize a Formula 1 Grand Prix. In line with the new urban circuits, increasingly numerous in F1, the capital Kigali is therefore the favorite. The city of 1,5 million inhabitants is currently hosting the FIA general assembly and will organize this December 13 the traditional awards ceremony, to crown the various champions.
“To be present in Rwanda for such an important moment in the FIA calendar is testament to the strength of this nation, particularly its growing influence in motorsport, underlines FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem. We are aligned on our shared values and goals in key areas such as innovation, sustainability and road safety, and I look forward to our continued partnership. The future of motorsport in Africa is bright.”
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A young journalist nostalgic for the motorsport of yesteryear. Raised on the exploits of Sébastien Loeb and Fernando Alonso.
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Dufresnoy
14/12/2024 at 02:21 a.m.
And why not Haiti, Sudan, even in Djibouti there would be more security, I gave up F1 for this type of c..........they...
dedeHJ37
15/12/2024 at 08:20 a.m.
why not in Greenland or Ecuador, there is certainly a greater automobile culture than in France, MSB and all its court are not averse to stupidity!
Olivierm 2B 88
13/12/2024 at 03:50 a.m.
No more French Grand Prix, no more German Grand Prix🥹, races like Spa+Francorchamps disrupted by F1 and a Rwandan Grand Prix, it's ridiculous. Well, no more than hoarse taxi-engined F1s. LOL
JEAN PIERRE LAFON
13/12/2024 at 01:33 a.m.
Rwanda's GDP per capita: $1000,22, average monthly income per capita: $76. Cost of a F1 plateau, between $30 and $50 million?
Yves-Henri RANDIER
13/12/2024 at 12:18 a.m.
Rwanda, another country wanting to do sportswashing because of an all-powerful autocrat. No car culture unlike South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya. Even countries like Angola, Mozambique, Namibia and Senegal still have circuits, certainly far from the Grade 1 required for F1... Between autocrats (MBS and PK), the current necessarily passes!