'Prepared to race in Africa' - official behind Rwandan GP masterplan
F1 News
Rwanda is primed and 'ready' for a Formula 1 Grand Prix, said Christian Gakwaya, the president of the Rwandan Automobile Club. As negotiations with Liberty Media speed up, the East African nation is continuing its push to bring the top tier of motorsport back to the continent for the first time since the 1993 South African Grand Prix, won by Alain Prost.
Rwanda - F1's next new destination?
Over the last week, rumours of a possible Grand Prix in the African nation of Rwanda have gained traction. In a conversation with Autosport.com, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said that he would be intrigued by a Formula 1 return to the continent. The Rwandan Automobile Club organise motor racing in the country, and president Gakwaya has said: “Rwanda as a country, we are committed and prepared to host a Formula 1 race.” As reported by motorsportmagazine.com, Gakwaya reinforced the nation's seriousness in their bid for F1. “Our interest in Formula 1 aligns with the national strategy to leverage sports as a lever for economic transformation,” Gakwaya stated. “As the founding sponsor and host of the NBA’s Basketball Africa League, as well as the upcoming UCI [cycling] World Championship, Rwanda has positioned itself as a premier destination for sports and entertainment.”
Kigali, the capital, will host FIA's annual prize-giving ceremony in December 2024, but no details about a proposed circuit plan have been revealed yet. If a circuit is built in Kigali, we can expect similar, high-altitude characteristics to that of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico. The Rwandan capital sits over 1km above sea level. “For motorsport in Rwanda, hosting F1 is a key component of a broader strategy we have that includes infrastructure development, capacity building and academies, and a push to host more international events and championships in Rwanda.
"Significant progress has already been made on the new strategy, with additional plans set to be revealed at the upcoming general assembly this December in Kigali," the official concluded. Will we see an African Grand Prix sooner than we think?