African Motorsport (Infrastucture, teams and drivers)
Discussion
Eric Mc said:
There was a Tripoli (Libya) GP held in the 1930s. That was when Libya was controlled by Italy and Mussolini wanted to showcase one of his colonies.
The only country I can see where a decent infrastucture and long lasting motor racing tradition exists is South Africa.
I actually think that it is probably too late for Africa to embrace motor sport. Even in established traditional motor sport countries I can see the tide of public opinion gradually moving against it. As other issues seem to be dominating peoples' thoughts, motor sport looks more and more of an elaborate extravagance - ESPECIALLY F1.
If African countries could get their act together, they could have thriving leisure and tourist industries (it already exists in some places) but I don't think motor sport could, or perhaps even should, be part of any new tourist/leisure industry.
I think the long term future of motor sport is at club and entry level.
Great post, thoughtfully laid out. In addition to the above, the iconic Safari Rally is back on the FIA WRC calender this year. You are right though in that it is preferable to develop the leisure and tourist industries further as opposed to motor racing.The only country I can see where a decent infrastucture and long lasting motor racing tradition exists is South Africa.
I actually think that it is probably too late for Africa to embrace motor sport. Even in established traditional motor sport countries I can see the tide of public opinion gradually moving against it. As other issues seem to be dominating peoples' thoughts, motor sport looks more and more of an elaborate extravagance - ESPECIALLY F1.
If African countries could get their act together, they could have thriving leisure and tourist industries (it already exists in some places) but I don't think motor sport could, or perhaps even should, be part of any new tourist/leisure industry.
I think the long term future of motor sport is at club and entry level.
Last Christmas, Ghana hosted the Year of Return initiative which saw a huge influx of tourists from around the world and a welcome boost to the local economy.
Surely off-road motor sport is the place to start. Africa is not short of open space. Rallying, Baja / Paris Dakar style, Motorcycle enduro events, etc. require lots of manpower to support and Africa has this in spades. They don't require anywhere near the same level of infrastructure.
Start there and build up to circuits.
Another option is closed road racing. The Chinese have spent billions in Africa on infrastructure projects - lots of brand new roads to play on. Just need accommodating local government to support.
Start there and build up to circuits.
Another option is closed road racing. The Chinese have spent billions in Africa on infrastructure projects - lots of brand new roads to play on. Just need accommodating local government to support.
Are you sure? The clue was in the name: YEAR of the Return. It was a year long event, not just Christmas. Also, it had nothing to do with motorsport whatsoever and there were no motorsport events, so I'm not sure why you have posted it in a thread about the benefit of developing motorsport to attract tourists!
It was an event linked to slavery, given Ghana's role in the slave trade, and about African-American people returning, (hence the RETURN) who could trace their ancestry to Africa.
It was supposed to bring in an extra 500,000 visitors. In then end an extra 250,000 arrived compared with 2018, but there had been an unexpected dip in tourists in 2018 anyway, so it only brought numbers back up to 2017 levels, and no one collected any data as to why people were visiting Ghana, and whether it was the Year of Return event or not.
It was an event linked to slavery, given Ghana's role in the slave trade, and about African-American people returning, (hence the RETURN) who could trace their ancestry to Africa.
It was supposed to bring in an extra 500,000 visitors. In then end an extra 250,000 arrived compared with 2018, but there had been an unexpected dip in tourists in 2018 anyway, so it only brought numbers back up to 2017 levels, and no one collected any data as to why people were visiting Ghana, and whether it was the Year of Return event or not.
Hey Lucy P,
For reference and in alignment with your attention for details, the Year of the Return celebrations in 2019 were meant for the entire African diaspora not exclusively for African Americans. It was meant to reminisce what started 400 years ago in 1619.
You may be aware that there are over 200 millions + afro-descendent across The Americas (from the North to the South and including the Caribbeans).
End of December the date for both Afrochella and the Full Circle festival initiated by a mix of Ghanaian American celebrities including Boris Kodjoe and Bozoma St John done in collaboration with Essence Festival (as of recent) and the Ghanaian government.
That said, why does it matter with Motorsports event? All the ingredients are met.
Lastly, a discussion on sports without the condescension is always better appreciated.
For reference and in alignment with your attention for details, the Year of the Return celebrations in 2019 were meant for the entire African diaspora not exclusively for African Americans. It was meant to reminisce what started 400 years ago in 1619.
You may be aware that there are over 200 millions + afro-descendent across The Americas (from the North to the South and including the Caribbeans).
End of December the date for both Afrochella and the Full Circle festival initiated by a mix of Ghanaian American celebrities including Boris Kodjoe and Bozoma St John done in collaboration with Essence Festival (as of recent) and the Ghanaian government.
That said, why does it matter with Motorsports event? All the ingredients are met.
Lastly, a discussion on sports without the condescension is always better appreciated.
Hey Eric M
Here are some of the current championships
- African rally championship
- Africa Eco Race (ivory coast/ kenya / uganda / rwanda / tanzania / zambia / south africa / madagascar
- South African Endurance series (prototypes and GT )
- South Africa Karting ( Rok Cup / Rotax Cup )
- Volkswagen Oettinger Polo Cup SA
- Formula M South Africa
- Formula Ford 1600 SA
- Mauritius National Rallye
- Mauritian Slalom Championship
- Redbull Car Park Drift Mauritius
These are some examples for all Motorsports but this is not an exhaustive list.
Here are some of the current championships
- African rally championship
- Africa Eco Race (ivory coast/ kenya / uganda / rwanda / tanzania / zambia / south africa / madagascar
- South African Endurance series (prototypes and GT )
- South Africa Karting ( Rok Cup / Rotax Cup )
- Volkswagen Oettinger Polo Cup SA
- Formula M South Africa
- Formula Ford 1600 SA
- Mauritius National Rallye
- Mauritian Slalom Championship
- Redbull Car Park Drift Mauritius
These are some examples for all Motorsports but this is not an exhaustive list.
Long time PH lurker here.
Also I keep a racecar at Killarney in South Africa.
Ludo
Interesting thread, thank you for starting it.
Yours is a difficult question, and something South African motorsport is struggling with.
I found a list of racetracks in Africa a while ago:
http://www.silhouet.com/motorsport/tracks/africa.h...
The list is not complete, and also includes a number of tracks that no longer exist.
The FIA website shows 38 member associations in Africa. This is probably a good place to start if you want to reach out to anyone.
https://www.fia.com/members/region/4
You are probably aware that South Africa has an active motorsport community. Link here to MSA, the controlling authority. https://www.motorsport.co.za
And a splinter group WOMSA. https://www.womzasa.co.za/
Circuit racing, off road racing, oval track (dirt and tar), drags, karting and drifting are all popular.
Obviously there is financial pressure on competitors as well as pressure to redevelop tracks into residential/commercial property. But things seem to bumble along, and every type of racing has its fans.
Historically the most popular years in South Africa were when the big manufacturers were sponsoring teams in Group N. ("standard" production cars.) Now, the big crowds come for drag racing and oval track events.
Both Namibia and Zimbabwe have some motorsport at the moment. But grids and public interest is small.
I cannot speak of the rest of Africa, but do know Kenya and Morocco have motorsport history and culture.
I think public interest grows when people can relate to the cars and drivers. Local drivers finding success overseas, and branded racecars that the buying public/spectators can associate with brings in the people.
My thoughts on how to start from zero?
Find a group of people/friends with an interest in motorsport.
Find space for simple racing. (dirt oval, airfield for drags or a short off-road race.)
Attract more people to participate.
Form a club.
Approach local authorities regarding a venue for racing. (Karting, drag racing and off road possibly require less infrastructure investment.)
Arrange a few events.
Get coverage in local media, and eventually at National level.
Approach sponsors to finance events.
Formalize the club to enable event insurance, marshals, affiliation with National/International motorsport authorities.
Then see if there is funding available for a permanent venue.
This is opposite from expecting to host an F1 event to kick start a motorsport culture, or expecting help from above.
Just my thoughts.
Also I keep a racecar at Killarney in South Africa.
Ludo
Interesting thread, thank you for starting it.
Yours is a difficult question, and something South African motorsport is struggling with.
I found a list of racetracks in Africa a while ago:
http://www.silhouet.com/motorsport/tracks/africa.h...
The list is not complete, and also includes a number of tracks that no longer exist.
The FIA website shows 38 member associations in Africa. This is probably a good place to start if you want to reach out to anyone.
https://www.fia.com/members/region/4
You are probably aware that South Africa has an active motorsport community. Link here to MSA, the controlling authority. https://www.motorsport.co.za
And a splinter group WOMSA. https://www.womzasa.co.za/
Circuit racing, off road racing, oval track (dirt and tar), drags, karting and drifting are all popular.
Obviously there is financial pressure on competitors as well as pressure to redevelop tracks into residential/commercial property. But things seem to bumble along, and every type of racing has its fans.
Historically the most popular years in South Africa were when the big manufacturers were sponsoring teams in Group N. ("standard" production cars.) Now, the big crowds come for drag racing and oval track events.
Both Namibia and Zimbabwe have some motorsport at the moment. But grids and public interest is small.
I cannot speak of the rest of Africa, but do know Kenya and Morocco have motorsport history and culture.
I think public interest grows when people can relate to the cars and drivers. Local drivers finding success overseas, and branded racecars that the buying public/spectators can associate with brings in the people.
My thoughts on how to start from zero?
Find a group of people/friends with an interest in motorsport.
Find space for simple racing. (dirt oval, airfield for drags or a short off-road race.)
Attract more people to participate.
Form a club.
Approach local authorities regarding a venue for racing. (Karting, drag racing and off road possibly require less infrastructure investment.)
Arrange a few events.
Get coverage in local media, and eventually at National level.
Approach sponsors to finance events.
Formalize the club to enable event insurance, marshals, affiliation with National/International motorsport authorities.
Then see if there is funding available for a permanent venue.
This is opposite from expecting to host an F1 event to kick start a motorsport culture, or expecting help from above.
Just my thoughts.
LucyP said:
Are you sure? The clue was in the name: YEAR of the Return. It was a year long event, not just Christmas. Also, it had nothing to do with motorsport whatsoever and there were no motorsport events, so I'm not sure why you have posted it in a thread about the benefit of developing motorsport to attract tourists!
It was an event linked to slavery, given Ghana's role in the slave trade, and about African-American people returning, (hence the RETURN) who could trace their ancestry to Africa.
It was supposed to bring in an extra 500,000 visitors. In then end an extra 250,000 arrived compared with 2018, but there had been an unexpected dip in tourists in 2018 anyway, so it only brought numbers back up to 2017 levels, and no one collected any data as to why people were visiting Ghana, and whether it was the Year of Return event or not.
I know what it was linked to. The point I was making was to buttress the tourism aspect Eric MC made that it is a more viable prospect to motor racing in Africa.It was an event linked to slavery, given Ghana's role in the slave trade, and about African-American people returning, (hence the RETURN) who could trace their ancestry to Africa.
It was supposed to bring in an extra 500,000 visitors. In then end an extra 250,000 arrived compared with 2018, but there had been an unexpected dip in tourists in 2018 anyway, so it only brought numbers back up to 2017 levels, and no one collected any data as to why people were visiting Ghana, and whether it was the Year of Return event or not.
LucyP said:
I don't see how you can link motorsport to an event that had nothing to do with motorsport, and had no motorsport events. The commemoration was supposed to bring in lots of tourists, but failed to do so anyway.
Reread my post again, secondly it did not fail, lots of tourists attended, you need to check your facts.
A dual axis approach is needed, the ability for people to compete safely and affordably in club level and grass roots forms of motorsport, and halo big ticket events to inspire people. Its the job of an organising body to cultivate both ends of the spectrum fairly.
A venue needs to be used - track days, experience days, test days during the week, and then sprints and races and timed events at the weekends.
A venue needs to be used - track days, experience days, test days during the week, and then sprints and races and timed events at the weekends.
Edited by andrewcliffe on Monday 23 March 18:03
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