Has F1 ever had a Grand Prix in Africa?
F1 News
With the recent rumours about a possible Rwanda GP and F1 having a Grand Prix on its current calendar in Africa, GPblog answers you the question: Has F1 ever competed at the continent?
The short answers is yes, indeed on three circuits. Before even Formula One began, South Africa's East London track hosted its first Grand Prix in 1934, which was won by Whitney Straight from the USA.
First GP in Morocco
The first non-official F1 race took place in 1957 in Morocco, where Jean Berra won in a Maserati. A year later in 1958, for the first time in the competition, an official GP was held in Africa, at the Ain-Diab Circuit in Casablanca, Morocco. After that year's eventual champion, Mike Hawthorn took pole position for Ferrari, but it was Stirling Moss who crossed the finish line first that weekend. A second official Moroccan Grand Prix has not happened ever since.
F1 moves to South Africa
The competition held its first South African F1 Grand Prix in 1962 at the East London track. Three times F1 used that circuit, in 1962, 1963 and in 1965. After a non-championship race in 1966 at East London, in 1967, the competition moved to the well-known Kyalami track. From 1967 until 1985, the South African GP remained a regular one on the F1 calendar, however, the one in 1981 was a non-championship event because of a conflict between the FISA (Fédération Internationale du Sport Automobile) and FOCA (Formula One Constructors' Association).
Between 1986 and 1991, the Grand Prix was not held because of Apartheid. In 1992, F1 did return to Kyalami, and the competition returned for the 1993 season, but since then, there hasn't been a Grand Prix weekend in Africa.
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