Morocco has emerged as a serious contender for the Grand Prix in Africa. A $1.2 billion project proposal has come up, according to reports, which can mark the end of the sport’s 32-year wait for a race on the continent.
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali stated that he was in talks with three African countries although he did not expect an “outcome in the very short term”.
The Race for Formula 1 Grand Prix in Africa
South Africa had long been a contender, but its economic crisis had put the long-pending dream on a back burner. Kyalami, the circuit north of Johannesburg that last hosted F1 in 1993.
At the end of last year, Rwanda President Paul Kagame announced that his country was launching an official bid.
Now, Morocco is poised to enter the race with a strategic project at a site 20 kilometres south of the coastal city of Tangiers.
It includes a Grade 1 circuit fit to host Formula 1, WEC and MotoGP, a theme park, a shopping mall, hotels and a marina. It is estimated that 10,000 jobs could be created.
According to reports, a private investment of $800 million has been secured. The remainder is expected to follow if approval at the highest level in Morocco is granted.
A significant draw for Formula 1 is that Tangiers is easy to reach from Europe. The industrial port of Tanger Med, sited 45 kilometres north-east of Tangiers, can be accessed by a short journey from the Spanish port of Algeciras, allowing the teams to construct their motorhomes in the paddock rather than work over a grand prix weekend out of temporary structures.
The mastermind behind the project is said to be Eric Boullier, the former Team Principal of McLaren and Lotus. He calls the project a “mini Abu Dhabi,” and believes that if approved, this project could meet all of F1’s objectives in Africa and establish the region as a premier destination for motorsport enthusiasts.
Also Read: EXPLAINED: The New Rule At The Spanish Grand Prix 2025
However, Boullier admitted that the project “is a long shot”, and indeed, according to reports this Moroccan Grand Prix bid is not being seriously considered as an addition to the Formula 1 calendar at this stage.
Morocco has a historical connection to Formula 1, having hosted a race in Casablanca back in 1958, where legends like Stirling Moss and Mike Hawthorn competed.
With Morocco, South Africa, and Rwanda in the running, the battle to bring F1 back to Africa is heating up. If successful, this initiative could not only mark the return of elite motorsport to the continent but also signal a new era of economic growth and tourism opportunities for the region.
