History
Africa and F1: a short history
1958
Morocco's one world championship race
Morocco hosted a single Formula 1 world championship race in 1958, on a fast road circuit at Ain-Diab on the edge of Casablanca. It was the final round of the season and a title decider. Stirling Moss won the race, but Mike Hawthorn finished second and took the championship by a single point. The day was overshadowed by a serious crash for Stuart Lewis-Evans, who later died from his injuries, and Formula 1 never returned to Morocco.
Until 1993
The South African Grand Prix
For three decades South Africa was Formula 1's home in Africa. The South African Grand Prix joined the world championship in 1962 at East London's Prince George circuit, where Graham Hill sealed his first title. From 1967 the race moved to Kyalami near Johannesburg, a fast, sweeping track at altitude that became a favourite early season stop. Jim Clark took the last win of his career there in 1968. The race was dropped after 1985 as pressure grew over apartheid, then returned in 1992 and 1993 as the country changed. Nigel Mansell won in 1992, and Alain Prost won in 1993, the last Formula 1 race held on the continent.
1993 to today
A long wait
For more than thirty years Africa was the only inhabited continent without a Grand Prix. Over that time there was regular talk of a return, with ideas floated for a revived race at Kyalami and for new events in other countries, but none came together. Drivers, teams and fans kept asking the same question: when would Formula 1 come back to Africa?
2030 at the earliest
Rwanda
A 10-year deal will bring Formula 1 back to Africa, with a new circuit in Bugesera, south-east of Kigali. The first race date is to be confirmed.