Source:REUTERS/Jean Bizimana
[Saba Sports News] Rwandan President Paul Kagame announced at the FIA General Assembly that Rwanda will bid to host the Formula 1 World Championship. According to the BBC, Kagame stated in his opening speech that Rwanda will bring the excitement of racing back to Africa. The Rwandan government has been in discussions with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and the entire F1 event team for several months regarding the hosting of the race, and significant progress has been made. Kagame promised that Rwanda would create an event to be proud of. Since the 1993 F1 South African Grand Prix held in Kyalami, north of Johannesburg, there has been no F1 event in Africa. In August this year, seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton expressed during the Dutch Grand Prix that the time is right for races to be held in Africa, and F1’s return would help the local industry develop. It is reported that the circuit in Rwanda will be designed by a company managed by former F1 driver Alexander Wurz, located near the newly built Bugesera International Airport, approximately 40 kilometers from the capital, Kigali.