Rwanda Submits Bid To Host Formula 1 Grand Prix
Rwanda President, Paul Kagame has confirmed that the country is bidding to host a Grand Prix in the future.
Talks have been going between Rwanda Sports ministry, and F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, who has expressed his desire to bring the sport to Africa.
The last time a Grand Prix was held in Africa was in 1993 in the South at Kyalami.
Kagame was speaking ahead of this year’s FIA prize-giving ceremony, which is being hosted in Rwanda’s capital, Kigali.
He said: “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.
“A big thank you to 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 which it deserves.
“Together we will build something that we can all be proud of.
Kagame added: “It is so important for countries in every region and every income level to have a fair shot at hosting international sporting events.
“Sometimes when a nontraditional host country is announced, it is as if we did something wrong. If you judge by especially the media reaction, these attitudes have to be left in the past and the role of sports governing bodies is absolutely central.”
Rwanda’s bid is centred around the construction of a permanent circuit near the new Bugesera airport, 40 kilometers south of Kigali.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem met with the Rwandan minister of sport, Richard Nyirishema, at the governing body’s general assembly this week.
He praised Rwanda’s growing influence in motorsport ahead of the prize-giving ceremony in Kigali.
Ben Sulayem said: “To be here in Rwanda for such an important moment in the FIA’s calendar is a testament to the strength of this nation, in particular its growing influence in motorsport,” Ben Sulayem said.
“We are aligned on our values and shared goals across key sectors such as innovation, sustainability, and road safety, and I look forward to our continued partnership. The future of motorsport in Africa is bright.
The track designer is Alexander Wurz, a former F1 driver and the chairman of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association.
Rwanda Submits Bid To Host Formula 1 Grand Prix is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
