McKenzie insists SA GP prospects not gone after Rwanda F1 deal

Yesterday’s Rwanda F1 announcement may not be the continent’s only grand prix for long. F1 and the FIA have announced a 10-year agreement for Rwanda to join the calendar in the ‘early 2030s.’ This involves building a new permanent circuit in Bugesera, around 40 km south of capitol city Kigali.

Former F1 driver Alex Wurz, whose company is involved in designing the circuit, told ORF that Rwanda could be only the beginning. “We might see one or two more Grand Prix races in Africa,” said the Austrian.

RWANDA F1 ANNOUNCEMENT

Better still, Wurz said the Rwanda layout itself should be spectacular. “It’s a beautiful track, nestled between two hills, next to a lovely lake. For the drivers, it will be a rollercoaster, a very fast, flowing track. They’ll be going full throttle,” Wurz said. Construction is expected to begin soon. However, the Rwanda deal has also attracted criticism. With Amnesty International accusing Formula 1 of offering a ‘sports-washing trophy’ to the government of President Paul Kagame.

Meanwhile, South African sports minister Gayton McKenzie also again insisted that the Rwanda F1 deal does not end South Africa’s own Formula 1 ambitions. “It’s not a zero-sum game. It doesn’t need to just be South Africa, it doesn’t just need to be Rwanda, one of the two. Why only one GP for Africa while Europe has seven? It can’t be. It will never be,” said McKenzie.

RETURN OF V8 ENGINES

At the same time, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem also used the Rwanda F1 announcement to confirm another major change. Around the same period, Formula 1 will return to V8 engines. “The great thing about 2030 is that we are working together. The launch of the new V8 will be in 2030, so Rwanda will have these engines in their first race,” Sulayem confirmed.

He also said the future cars are expected to be around 80-kg lighter. And engine research and development costs reduced substantially from the current electric-heavy power units – with GMM

But what do you think? Are you happy to hear of the Rwanda F1 deal? Do you think SA still has a chance after this announcement? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below …