F1 in Africa: Rwanda launches bid for Grand Prix close to deliberate Bugesera airport, close to Kigali, at FIA basic meeting | F1 Information

The Rwandan president has confirmed the nation’s plan to convey System 1 again to Africa, as a part of ongoing discussions with the game’s leaders.

F1 has not raced in Africa for the reason that 1993 South African Grand Prix at Kyalami, and plans to convey the occasion again to the calendar lately finally didn’t materialize. F1 president Stefano Domenicali met representatives of the Rwandan bid in September.

The monitor could be a everlasting circuit close to the longer term Bugesera airport, close to Kigali.

Rwanda hosts the FIA ​​Common Meeting for the primary time this week, which concludes on Friday with the end-of-season driver and staff awards ceremony, throughout which the world championship trophies are formally again in motorsport.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame opened Friday’s Common Meeting assembly with the governing physique and mentioned: “I’m completely satisfied to formally announce that Rwanda is making an attempt to convey again the joys of motor racing to Africa, by internet hosting a System 1 Grand Prix.

“Many due to Stefano Domenicali and your entire System 1 staff for the nice progress in our discussions to this point. I guarantee you that we’re approaching this chance with the seriousness and dedication it deserves.”

When might a race in Africa be part of the F1 calendar?

The 2025 F1 calendar is already set, so the earliest a race in Rwanda might be part of the calendar could be 2026.

F1 just lately introduced that the Dutch Grand Prix could be faraway from the calendar after 2026, opening up a possible slot for a brand new race in 2027, which might additionally enable time to design a brand new monitor. Nevertheless, there is no such thing as a definitive timetable for holding a race in Africa, however Rwanda is main the continent’s venture.

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who joins Ferrari from January, mentioned Rwanda was one among his “favourite locations” to go to after exploring numerous African nations this summer season.

“We won’t add races somewhere else and proceed to disregard Africa, which the remainder of the world is simply taking from. No person is giving something to Africa,” Hamilton mentioned in August.

“There is a large quantity of labor to be achieved there. I feel lots of people all over the world who’ve by no means been there do not realize how stunning the place is, how massive it’s. They usually in all probability do not even know what it’s, nations are nonetheless exhibiting restraint in these areas.

“So I feel having a Grand Prix there’ll actually spotlight how stunning the place is and entice tourism and all kinds of issues.”

Rwanda has sought to extend tourism to the nation lately and promote itself by sport, together with hanging a sponsorship cope with Arsenal FC.

Nevertheless, Rwanda’s human rights report has come below scrutiny. Human Rights Watch submitted proof to the UK Committee on Worldwide Agreements in December 2023, stating: “Severe human rights violations proceed to happen in Rwanda, together with repression of freedom of expression, arbitrary detention, ill-treatment and torture by Rwandan authorities. Rwanda stays tightly closed and the opposition is recurrently threatened and harassed. »

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