F1 race winner in SHOCK role behind Zanzibar Grand Prix bid

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F1 race winner in SHOCK role behind Zanzibar Grand Prix bid

The exciting new project has a shock former F1 driver giving it support

Tyler Rowlinson

Monday 29 January 2024 11:57

Former F1 driver and race winner Giancarlo Fisichella is helping out in a project to develop a potential future race track in Zanzibar.

A wave of exciting new circuits and proposals for hosts of future races have taken the F1 world by storm, with the recent announcement of the Madrid Grand Prix and speculation about a race in Osaka.

Another potential destination for the sport that has been discussed for years in a return to Africa, with Lewis Hamilton actively pursuing the inclusion of a race in the continent – the last being the South African Grand Prix at Kyalami in 1993.

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With a return to Kyalami proving difficult due financial reasons and its Grade 2 status from the FIA, it now looks like an exciting new project in Zanzibar could be a future circuit to host a F1 race.

There has not been an F1 race in Africa since 1993

Now Giancarlo Fisichella is helping out a project in Zanzibar

Fisichella joins Zanzibar Grand Prix project

And according to Gazzetta della Sport, Fisichella – who won three races in his time in F1 which saw him drive for the likes of Jordan, Renault, Force India and Ferrari – is supporting Cristian Bortolato in trying to get the East African island to host a future race, offering his advice with technical details on the circuit layout.

Approval was given to build the track in 2022 and in November of last year, a section of the island was selected to start development, which is set to begin next year.

The first part of the circuit is due to be ready by 2027 and it could host events in two or three different layouts when completed.

However, even with the help of Fisichella, Zanzibar will likely not host an F1 race before the end of the decade, but the FIA are expected to be monitoring the situation closely.

Lewis Hamilton Giancarlo Fisichella Madrid Grand Prix South African Grand Prix