F1's African Comeback: Rwanda Readies for Race

Rwanda steps up, eager to host Formula 1, marking the sport’s potential return to Africa.

Christian Gakwaya, President of the Automobile Club of Rwanda, has confirmed the African nation’s interest in hosting a Formula 1 race.

Stefano Domenicali, CEO of Formula 1, earlier this week revealed that a meeting between F1 and Rwandan delegates is scheduled for the end of September.

Gakwaya will attend the meeting, which will explore the feasibility of Rwanda hosting the premier class of motorsport.

Formula 1 has not raced in Africa since the 1993 South African Grand Prix, with Lewis Hamilton repeatedly calling for the sport’s return to the continent.

Rwanda, a small country in Central Africa, will host this year’s FIA awards ceremony in the capital, Kigali. The country is no stranger to global sports, with Visit Rwanda being a major sponsor of PSG, the Paris football club, and North London’s Arsenal.

Gakwaya is a key figure in Rwanda’s bid to host a Grand Prix, having stressed that the country is ready.

“It is time for Africa to be part of the F1 calendar,” Gakwaya told FormulaPassion. “We are ready to host an F1 race.”

“Rwanda represents an ideal opportunity for Formula 1’s return to Africa. We are serious in our intent to submit our candidacy.”

“Our interest in Formula 1 is part of the national strategy to use sport as a lever for economic transformation.”

“For motorsport in Rwanda, hosting F1 is a key component of a broader strategy that encompasses infrastructure development, capacity building and schools, as well as the ambition to host more international events and championships.”

Turning to news from the circuits, the General Manager of the Salzburgring in Austria believes his track is suited to hosting Grand Prix races.

The high-speed Austrian circuit could accommodate Formula 1 races following its latest modernisation, according to Salzburgring’s General Manager Ernst Penninger.

The 4.2-kilometre high-speed layout is certified by the FIA as grade 3 – with grade 1 required to host Formula 1 events. However, Penninger believes that the recent upgrade puts them on par with the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, which has hosted F1 annually since 2014.

“We now have a brand new fully digitised race control system. We completed it in April and it has been in full use since May.”

“Technically, we are on the same level as Spielberg, but with newer technology since our camera technology is more recent. We are more modern than many other DTM circuits and would have no problem hosting Formula 1 races today.”

However, wresting the Grand Prix from Red Bull appears challenging and Penninger has not confirmed any immediate plans to request an FIA inspection to upgrade to grade 1.