By Alan Baldwin
ZANDVOORT, Netherlands (Reuters) – Lewis Hamilton said on Thursday the time was right for a Formula One race in Africa and he was working behind-the-scenes with Rwanda and South Africa to try to make it happen.
The seven-times world champion spoke to reporters at the Dutch Grand Prix after visiting Africa during the sport’s August break.
“The time’s 100% right. We can’t be adding races in other locations and continue to ignore Africa, which the rest of the world just takes from. No one gives anything to Africa,” said the Mercedes driver.
“I think having a Grand Prix there will really be able to highlight just how great the place is and bring in tourism and all sorts of things. Why are we not on that continent?
“There is at least one track that’s ready. In the short term, we should just get on that track and have that part of the calendar, and then work on building out something really cool.”
Formula One has long wanted to return to Africa for the first time since South Africa’s Kyalami circuit last hosted a race in 1993, but financial issues have been a major obstacle.
Formula One chief executive Stefano Domenicali said this month that Rwanda wanted to host a race at a permanent circuit, yet to be built, and there would be further discussions in September.
Hamilton, Formula One’s first and only Black driver, said he would also be speaking with Domenicali.
“Rwanda is one of my favourite places I’ve been to actually. I’ve been doing a lot of work in the background on it,” said the Briton.
“I’ve spoken to people in Rwanda, I’ve spoken to people in South Africa. That’s a longer project, Rwanda, but it’s amazing that they’re so keen to get a part of it.”
The 39-year-old Briton has made several visits to Africa with the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR and his latest trip took him to Morocco, Senegal, Benin, Mozambique and Madagascar.
“I’m still digesting the trip to be honest. Going to a refugee camp and seeing the work that is being done there and how people who are displaced are affected,” he said.
“It’s one thing reading about it, or hearing on the news, but actually seeing and speaking to kids who are walking 10km to get to school just to have an education and then 10k back and not having school meals and being able to eat during the day.
“That was really heavy to see and experience and then the history of Senegal and seeing the slave areas was really heavy as well.
“Through all those experiences I feel it’s just adding to my compass of what I want to do moving forwards,” said Hamilton.
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Clare Fallon)
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