Africa's F1 dreams spark rivalry between South Africa and Rwanda
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The race to return Formula 1 to the African continent is heating up, with South Africa and Rwanda both making ambitious bids to host a round of the World Championship.
South Africa, the historical home of Formula 1 on the continent, is making a major push to secure the sport's return to the iconic Kyalami Circuit, while Rwanda has also emerged as a serious contender, leveraging its rapid development and strong backing from global partners.
Kyalami, located just north of Johannesburg, last hosted an F1 Grand Prix in 1993, but the venue has struggled in the past to secure funding for the upgrades necessary to meet the FIA's modern FIA Grade 1 standards.
However, a renewed commitment from the South African government is giving the bid fresh momentum.
Gayton Mckenzie, the country's Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture, has announced the formation of the South African Formula 1 Bid Steering Committee, a 13-member team charged with delivering the race by 2027.
In his announcement, Mckenzie made a heartfelt appeal to Formula 1 and paid tribute to Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time world champion and outspoken activist for diversity and inclusion in motorsport.
"Lewis Hamilton, we want to pay tribute to you and your activism," Mckenzie said in a report by Speedcafe. "You introduced so many of us to Formula 1 and turned us into passionate fans today.
"You inspire us with who you are as a driver, a person and a tireless activist for what you believe in. "We want to crown your career by seeing you race here."
Mckenzie also highlighted the disparity in the current Formula 1 calendar, pointing to Africa's absence despite its size and importance.
"Europe has 10 races, if you include Baku," McKenzie noted. "One country, Italy, has two F1 races. Africa, with 54 countries, does not even have one race.
"So, there's no reason that we can't all put our name forward, and support each other, to make sure that the world championship takes place everywhere in the world, as it should."
©Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit
While South Africa is a natural choice for F1's return to Africa given its legacy, Rwanda has emerged as a surprising but serious challenger.
The country's President, Paul Kagame, has made significant efforts to position Rwanda as a hub for global tourism and economic growth, including investments in aviation and infrastructure.
Last week, the country's capital, Kigali, hosted the FIA's annual prize-giving ceremony, an event that signaled Rwanda's growing involvement in motorsport.
President Kagame himself has attended several Grands Prix, further fueling speculation about the nation's ambitions to host an F1 race.
"I am happy to formally announce that Rwanda is bidding to bring the thrill of racing back to Africa, by hosting a Formula 1 grand prix," President Kagame said last week.
"A big thank you to [F1 president] Stefano Domenicali and the entire team at F1 for the good progress in our discussions so far.
"I assure you we are approaching this opportunity with the seriousness and commitment it deserves."
An artist's impression of Kigali's future new airport.
At the heart of Rwanda's bid is the construction of a $1.3 billion international airport in Kigali, backed by Qatar Airways, an official Formula 1 partner, which has a 60 percent interest in the project, and near which the city's future F1 circuit would be located .
The new facility, which is expected to open its first phase by 2027, is designed to handle seven million passengers annually, with plans to expand to 14 million in the future.
"We're looking at 2027 and 2028 in terms of the airport being operational," confirmed RwandAir CEO Yvonne Manzi Makolo.
"Addis is already a huge hub but Kigali will be an alternative regional hub, especially given the geographical position of Rwanda right in the heart of Africa, which gives us access to all the points."
Rwanda is pushing to grow its tourism economy, an area Kagame has identified as a key driver for economic growth and employment in the country.
The African continent, with its population of 1.4 billion and rapidly expanding economy, represents a significant untapped market for Formula 1. Both South Africa and Rwanda are keen to fill the void left since Kyalami last hosted a race, each presenting a unique case.
South Africa boasts the historical and cultural legacy of hosting F1 races in the past, with Kyalami as an iconic venue. On the other hand, Rwanda offers a modern vision of development, leveraging new infrastructure and partnerships to position itself as a global destination.
As the battle to bring Formula 1 back to Africa intensifies, the sport faces a tantalizing choice: a return to its roots in South Africa or an adventurous new chapter in Rwanda.
Either way, the dream of African fans to see the pinnacle of motorsport return to their continent is closer than ever.
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