Nigeria are in talks with Formula 1 about the prospect of holding a grand prix in Africa.
Lewis Hamilton has said the sport cannot continue to “ignore” Africa as it explores new locations for future calendars, and Nigeria want to stage a race at a circuit in the capital Abuja.
F1 has not raced in Africa since the 1993 South African Grand Prix in Kyalami.
But a proposal by Opus Race Promotions has “early support” from the Nigerian government, according to a report by the Times.
Opus Race Promotions in April presented the concept of an F1 race in Nigeria and held talks with Shehu Dikko, the chairman of the National Sports Commission.
They were then officially appointed to negotiate with F1 and the FIA, the sport’s governing body, on behalf of the Nigerian government.
“We are exploring all possibilities to bring Formula 1 to Nigeria as soon as practicable - not just as a sporting event, but as a catalytic driver of tourism, infrastructure development, youth engagement, economy and indeed soft power for Nigeria,” said Dikko said. “This vision aligns with vision of our president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali has been invited by the promoter to visit Abuja to review the project.
Rwanda and South Africa have previously expressed interest in hold a grand prix in Africa, but neither bid has progressed in recent months.
Seven-time world champion Hamilton has said F1 should race in Africa.
Hamilton said last year: “We can't be adding races in other locations and continuing to ignore Africa, which the rest of the world just takes from. No one gives anything to Africa.”
