Written by: Ayman Ragab
By hosting the 24th edition of the Gorilla Mountains Rally in Rwanda from July 10-12, a stage of the African Rally Championship, Rwanda is pursuing a long-term strategy to develop motorsport and bolster its efforts to one day host a Formula 1 Grand Prix, which would be the first of its kind on the continent in more than three decades.
The roar of engines echoed through the streets of Kigali before giving way to the Bugesera tracks, as the 24th edition of the Rwanda Gorilla Mountain Rally continued. The event, which is part of the African Rally Championship calendar, brought together more than 35 teams from eight countries.
This competition, which took place over 18 special stages totaling nearly 400 kilometers of tracks between Kigali and Bugesera, confirms Rwanda's rise to prominence in continental motorsport.
A catalyst for economic and sporting development
“This year we recorded strong participation, with 8 countries represented and 15 cars participating in the African Championship,” confirms Christian Gakwaya, president of the Rwanda Automobile Club.
Beyond the competition itself, Rwandan authorities view this event as a catalyst for economic and sporting development. After hosting basketball, cycling and golf championships, the country is increasing its investments in hosting international events to boost its tourist appeal, develop its infrastructure and attract investors.
”Sport is a strategic sector that has benefited from well-considered investment. We aspire to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix, and believe me, we will,“ declared Sports Minister Nelly Mukaziere. She added that the current competitions demonstrate Rwanda’s potential and highlight the opportunities motorsport offers, both for drivers and investors.
Choosing Bugesera is no small decision. The area already includes the site of the future Kigali International Airport and is among the locations being considered to host a Formula 1 race track. Although no official decision has been made by Formula 1 Management (FOM), Rwanda is clearly demonstrating its ambition to revive motorsport, the most prominent sport on the African continent.
This increase in capacity is accompanied by in-depth work on regulatory standards. Furthermore, the presence of officials and supervisors from the International Automobile Federation (FIA), who came to oversee the event in accordance with the requirements of the African Rally Championship, allows Rwandan officials to enhance their technical and organizational skills with the aim of hosting higher-level competitions in the future.
To achieve this goal, the Rwanda Automobile Club is focusing on gradually developing skills across all aspects of its organization. Christian Gakwaya explains, ”We have developed a five-year strategy to develop all branches of motorsport, from rally racing to karting, while also enhancing the capabilities of our officials. Our aim is to be fully prepared to host major international events in the future.“.
For Rwanda, the Gorilla Mountain Rally is not just a stage of the African Championship, but also a complete laboratory in which the skills, infrastructure and credibility needed to nurture a bigger ambition are built: to one day bring Formula 1 racing back to the African continent.
The challenge now is to convince Formula 1 management that Africa, which has been absent from the Formula 1 calendar since the South African Grand Prix in 1993, is ready to reclaim its place on the starting grid.
