IT has been over 30 years since the roar of Formula 1 engines echoed on African soil but a heated race is underway to bring the sport back to the continent.
Rwanda and South Africa are vying for pole position and hope to realise their ambition in 2027.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has long been an advocate of an African grand prix, and that sentiment is spreading among fellow drivers.
“I would like to race in Africa.
“We are very excited to be on that road,” reigning champion Max Verstappen told BBC Sport Africa.
McLaren’s Lando Norris, meanwhile, thinks Africa would be “the perfect place” to introduce F1 to new audiences.
Rwanda are offering an innovative vision, aiming to blend motorsport with sustainability and natural beauty.
President Paul Kagame formally announced Rwanda’s bid last December and the country has the backing of the head of motorsport’s world governing body (FIA).
FIA regulates F1, while Liberty Media are the holders of the competition’s commercial rights.
“Africa deserves an F1 event and Rwanda is the best place,” FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem told BBC Sport Africa.
Yet the South African bid has a rich history to draw on — as well as a track that is already built.
Rwanda, often called “the land of a thousand hills”, plans to embrace their unique terrain.
A track, designed by former Benetton driver Alexander Wurz, is set to be constructed approximately 25 kilometres from the capital Kigali and promises to deliver a fast, flowing layout that winds through forests and around a picturesque lake.
It includes dramatic elevation changes and sharp corners that were described by Verstappen as “amazing” when the Red Bull Racing man visited Rwanda for the FIA Awards in December, while Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc is excited by the potential for overtaking opportunities.
But building an F1 circuit is no small feat, given it must meet stringent FIA safety standards and accommodate associated infrastructure, including paddocks and media facilities.
Rwanda’s bid is part of a larger strategy to position the country as a global sports hub.
“It’s about Rwanda’s growth, people and place on the world stage,” said Christian Gakwaya, president of the Rwanda Automobile Club, the organisation in charge of motorsport activities in the country.
Some estimates suggest the project could cost Rwanda over US$270 million, yet the investment would help boost a tourism sector that generated over US$620 million in 2023, according to the Rwanda Development Board.
“From job creation to infrastructure upgrades, these events touch lives across the country,” Rwanda’s chief tourism officer Irene Murerwa explained.
“The benefits trickle down to every Rwandan.
“Hosting F1 would be another step in our journey to becoming a world-class destination.”
A commitment to sustainability is another cornerstone of the bid, with Gakwaya pledging to “uphold the highest environmental standards”.
The country’s ban on single-use plastics and focus on harnessing renewable energy aligns with F1’s ambition to reach net-zero emissions by 2030.
Rwanda have already invested in sport, staging events like the Basketball Africa League, while the Visit Rwanda campaign, via partnerships with football clubs Arsenal, Paris St-Germain and Bayern Munich, have successfully raised the country’s profile.
In September, Rwanda will become the first African nation to host cycling’s Road World Championships.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s bid leans on their historic Kyalami circuit, which hosted 23 F1 races between 1967 and 1993, and requires far fewer upgrades than building a brand new facility.
A committee has been formed to oversee a bid, with plans to appoint a promoter to collaborate with the government for Cabinet approval.
Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie is already keen, highlighting the “massive” economic impact of staging an F1 race that could bring hundreds of thousands of tourists. McKenzie estimated the annual hosting cost at 2 billion rand (US$106 million), yet reassured the public that private sector sponsors are showing significant interest, with offers exceeding US$20 million for hospitality rights alone.
He dismissed concerns about F1 being a “rich man’s sport”, comparing it to South Africa’s hosting of the FIFA World Cup in 2010.
“People said hosting the World Cup would be a waste, but those same people attended the games,” he told BBC Sport Africa.
“F1 will have the same effect — it will create jobs, boost tourism and showcase South Africa to the world.
“When people say money could be spent elsewhere, they miss the bigger picture.”
Despite their differing approaches, both nations face significant challenges.
Even after securing a place on the calendar, the successful country must pay an annual race promotion fee of between US$15 million and US$50 million to Liberty Media, while yearly track maintenance fees would average US$18 million.
Beyond that, ensuring sufficient accommodation and transportation options for fans further adds to the immense investment required.
Whether Rwanda’s scenic hills or the Kyalami circuit are chosen, F1 is moving closer to a return to Africa.
When it does arrive, a spectacle combining history, innovation and opportunity will deliver a defining moment for the continent. — BBC
