20 replies to this topic

[Derwent Motorsport]

I am writing an article for my club magazine about the fact that many of the events of the past can no longer take place due to wars and politics.  One thing that came out fot the research is that Africa is perhaps the most badly hit continent. No adventures from Cape to Cairo, not Paris Dakar, much smaller Safari Rally etc. 

But I can't find much evidence of current racing in Africa compared to 40 or more years ago, perhaps other than in South Africa.  The racing in East and West Africa was mainly in what were the colonies of UK and other European countries and even those on North Africa would have French influence. 

Does anyone know of any current racing in Africa outside SA?

[Vitesse2]

Rallying and autocross in Kenya. A dig into the KMSF website also shows that - at least until 2019 - there was some karting there too.

[Dipster]

There was a WTCC street circuit saloon car race in Casablanca in about 2010.  

[Vitesse2]

There was a WTCC street circuit saloon car race in Casablanca in about 2010.  

Actually 2009 to 2019 inclusive.

 

https://en.wikipedia...Race_of_Morocco

[Derwent Motorsport]

Actually 2009 to 2019 inclusive.

 

https://en.wikipedia...Race_of_Morocco

Thanks for that. The first international race in Morocco since the 1958 GP

[Vitesse2]

There were tentative plans for a GP in Egypt in the early 2000s.

 

https://www.irishtim...ramids-1.430136

 

http://news.bbc.co.u...one/1982796.stm

 

No doubt Bernie came out of that one ahead.

 

I can let you have some 'pre-history' on the origins of what eventually became the Dakar, if it's of interest.

[BRG]

Somewhere - I think it might have been in the "Track Limits Madness" thread - there was a shot of a race in Nigeria (?) which attracted some comments due to the presence of guys toting AK47s.  But i haven't managed to track it down yet.

[Henk Vasmel]

Just checked Zambia, because my wife is from that country

 

https://www.facebook...38865516530330/

 

is the facebook page of the ZMSA. There is lots of details about 2021 rallys there. Not very important on a world scale, but some things are happening there. I think for other countries in Africa, you might be able to find similar things.

[arttidesco]

Just checked Zambia, because my wife is from that country

 

https://www.facebook...38865516530330/

 

is the facebook page of the ZMSA. There is lots of details about 2021 rallys there. Not very important on a world scale, but some things are happening there. I think for other countries in Africa, you might be able to find similar things.

 

Yes the Lawrence Allen Circuit facebook page suggests motorsport in Zambia is mostly rallying and off road motorcycling :- https://www.facebook...114968031889361

[Gary C]

Exactly the same here in Kenya. Not even a sniff of circuit stuff I'm afraid.

[BRG]

A quick check on eWRC-results.com for pre-covid 2019 shows active rally seasons took place in Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, South Africa, Namibia & Madagascar and I wouldn't be surprised if there had been small rallies elsewhere in Africa as well.

 

Rallying is easy to put on.  The roads are there already and need little preparation.  A bit of basic rally preparation work on a car needn't be hugely expensive.  So even in poorer developing countries, it is feasible.  Racing however needs rather more infrastructure. Handy old airfields aren't so common in Africa and street circuits will not be very practicable in most African cities or towns.  

[Rob Semmeling]

As of a few years ago, there were active racing circuits in the following African countries, excluding South Africa:

 

• Angola (Autódromo Internacional de Luanda)
• Morocco (Circuit Automobile Int Moulay El Hassan in Marrakech)
• Namibia (Tony Rust Circuit near Windhoek)
• Senegal (Circuit de Dakar at Baobabs)
• Zimbabwe (Breedon Everard Raceway aka Falls Road Circuit aka Bulawayo, and Donnybrook Park aka Shell Auto Raceway)

 

Perhaps also in Mozambique (Autódromo de Maputo aka Lourenço Marques), but not sure if that is still active.

 

The tracks in Senegal (opened in 2008) and Morocco (in 2009 but completely redone in 2016) are new, while those in Angola and Zimbabwe date back to colonial days. Not sure when the Namibian circuit was built.

 

With the exception of Morocco, which has hosted WTCC, Formula E and even Formula 2, among others, obviously these tracks are used at local or national level.

 

Kenya, Libya and Zambia used to have tracks as well but those are long gone. South Africa, incidentally, had 11 active racing circuits as of a few years ago, plus 4 former ones.

 

Again, it’s been a few years since I’ve looked at this, so no guarantees there have been no changes since.

Edited by Rob Semmeling, 27 December 2021 - 16:30.

[Rob Semmeling]

The Luanda autodrome in Angola was still used as recently as 2015…

 

https://youtu.be/DuD27owhJO0

 

… but judging from this video from March of this year, it is now defunct:

 

https://youtu.be/K0HX6Rv-Ur

 

Although: there is a video on YouTube of (now former) FIA president Jean Todt visiting the circuit last September, which seems to suggest efforts are being made to renovate the circuit - alas, my Portuguese is not good enough to understand what is being said.

Edited by Rob Semmeling, 27 December 2021 - 16:46.

[Rob Semmeling]

The Baobabs circuit in Senegal is still going strong: https://youtu.be/PQcevWKy5tY

 

The Tony Rust circuit in Namibia hosted racing as recently as 2017…

 

https://youtu.be/BN_jTdxUtB8

 

… but it seems to be used more frequently for drag racing.

[Rob Semmeling]

Bulawayo in Zimbabwe still had racing in 2018… https://youtu.be/0CD1RtX3Ulg

 

… and Donnybrook in 2019: https://youtu.be/logIAWGCq84

[Rob Semmeling]

There is still drag racing at Maputo in Mozambique, but I haven’t found any evidence of the old autodrome still being used for circuit racing:

 

https://youtu.be/wy98jigk9Eo

Edited by Rob Semmeling, 28 December 2021 - 05:36.

[nexfast]

Although: there is a video on YouTube of (now former) FIA president Jean Todt visiting the circuit last September, which seems to suggest efforts are being made to renovate the circuit - alas, my Portuguese is not good enough to understand what is being said.

He was there to participate in the symbolic opening of a new circuit (Cabo Ledo) more than 120 km outside the capital. I say symbolic because in the video it is said that there is no date for the project to be launched. He also visited the old Luanda track and was sad to see its current state, urging the Angolan authorities to bring it back to a workable condition.

[Rob Semmeling]

Interesting, thanks for that!

[GeoffR]

There is still drag racing at Maputo in Mozambique, but I haven’t found any evidence of the old autodrome still being used for circuit racing:

 

https://youtu.be/wy98jigk9Eo

 

Looks like street cars only though, no dedicated drag only machines ......

[Rob Semmeling]

Albeit surprisingly fancy street cars!

[Rupertlt1]

THE SPORT IN MADAGASCAR

A VARIETY of motor sporting

events will be held in 1953 on

the island of Madagascar, off the

east coast of Africa. On 7th June

a race will take place over a cir-

cuit at Ivato; from 11th to 14th July

the 3rd Rallye de Madagascar is due

to be run over a distance of 1,950

miles; and on 4th October a four

hours race on the Ivato circuit is

scheduled.

Autosport, 13 February 1953, Page 195

 

ANTANANARIVO G.P.

ALTHOUGH seemingly one of those wist-

ful events which appear in the

Calendar, yet are never heard of, the

G.P. of Antananarivo, in Madagascar,

duly took place on 30th May, over the

short Ivato circuit. It produced a

"double", on index of performance and

distance, for Dubois (Jaguar), from

Poisson (Austin-Healey) and Murat

(Porsche). A D.B. Monomill driven by

Redon won the racing class.

Autosport, 2 July 1954, Page 8

 

3 October 1954:

Four-Hour Race, Antananarivo, Madagascar.

 

«Grand prix automobile d'Ivato» le 5 Juin 1955.

 

There was a French airbase at Ivato.

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 17 May 2022 - 05:05.