What's happened
Rwanda has officially announced its bid to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix, aiming to bring racing back to Africa for the first time since 1993. President Kagame confirmed the country's commitment during the FIA General Assembly in Kigali, highlighting ongoing discussions with F1 management.
Why it matters
What the papers say
Kieran Jackson from The Independent reports that Rwanda's President Kagame announced the bid during the FIA General Assembly, emphasizing the seriousness of their approach. He stated, 'Together we will build something we can all be proud of.' Meanwhile, All Africa highlights the advanced stage of Rwanda's plans, noting that F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has acknowledged their commitment and presented a promising plan. The Independent also mentions South Africa's ambitions to return to the F1 calendar, with Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie asserting that 'Kyalami is doing what they need to do' to meet F1 standards. This competition between Rwanda and South Africa could shape the future of motorsport in Africa.
How we got here
Formula 1 has not raced in Africa since 1993, with Rwanda and South Africa both expressing interest in hosting future races. Rwanda's bid is seen as advanced, with plans for a permanent track near Bugesera airport.
More on these topics
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Stefano Domenicali is an Italian manager and the current CEO of Formula One Group, replacing Chase Carey. He is the former CEO of Italian sports car manufacturer Lamborghini from 2016 to 2020.
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Rwanda, formerly Ruanda, officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley where the African Great Lakes region and East Africa converge. One of the smallest countries on the African mainland, its capital city is Kigali.
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Formula One is the highest class of international single-seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile and owned by the Formula One Group.
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Paul Kagame is a Rwandan politician and former military leader. He is the 6th and current president of Rwanda, having taken office in 2000.
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South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa, is the southernmost country in Africa. With over 59 million people, it is the world's 24th-most populous nation and covers an area of 1,221,037 square kilometres.