South Africa & Rwanda Battle to Host Africa's First GP Since 1993
Oct.11 - Several projects on the continent appear to be in competition for a future African GP.
This year's FIA prize gala will take place in Rwanda, with the East African country also working on a grand prix project that F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has described as a "good plan".
There are concerns, however, not only about the Marburg virus outbreak in Rwanda, but about how poor the country is. "A country whose GDP is made up 40 percent by Western aid should not be allowed in Formula 1," an unnamed F1 team boss told Auto Bild.
Another African GP project is shaping up in South Africa as well.
South Africa's sports minister Gayton McKenzie told the 'The South African' newspaper: "I can tell you this - F1 is definitely coming.
"F1 told us they're keen to come, they told us what they'll need to come, and we are going to give them what they need to come," he added.
The last grand prix on African soil took place at Kyalami, north of Johannesburg, in 1993.
Minister McKenzie continued: "There's still a big fight at the moment. Is it Cape Town, or is it Joburg? That decision has not been taken."
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Let's wait & see instead of making definitive conclusions.
An Africa return regardless of country is definitely viable, but this is a more medium term thing in any case & whether both would join simultaneously is another matter.
Fia gala being held there , mmmm those concrete holiday chalets and large hall encased in Raac concrete paid for by the UK government sounds lovely,The Rwanden delegation are proud to show off there asylum/2nd home
complex,Errr I meam F1 hospitality facilities to Liberty, I smell a rat here, it wont be long and Labour will be claiming F1 was the plan all along
How on earth could Rwanda, one of the poorest nations on the planet, afford to pay for the construction of a circuit that would comply with FIA requirements along with the infrastructure to support an event? I very much doubt they could hold a city streets race that could meet FIA safety requirements. Not to mention the accommodation that would be required, and I very much doubt the airport at Kigali, which has about 70 aircraft movements each day which are mainly smaller commercial aircraft, can cater for large wide-bodied cargo aircraft that will be needed to transport the teams and all their equipment. Who is the uninformed fool that is even considering an F1 race in Rwanda in the existing situation?
South Africa at least has the circuits and infrastructure, as well as major airports and accommodation, in place to hold an event either in Cape Town or at Kyalami. The tracks may need to be updated to current safety requirements, and lengthened in Cape Town's case, but that is inconsequential.
Box ticking and corruption
Count me in.🤑
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