Latest news with #MarvinSordell
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Premier League striker enters F1 world by fronting shock bid for new race in Africa
Ex-Bolton star Marvin Sordell is leading Nigeria's efforts to host a Formula 1 race as they join the growing list of nations who want to strike a deal with the FIA Nigeria has become the latest African country to come forward and express a desire to host an F1 race with ex- Premier League frontman and Olympian Marvin Sordell fronting their bid. F1 currently visits every habitable continent bar Africa, where it hasn't been since the South African Grand Prix in 1993 at Kyalami. There is a growing desire to return however and South Africa, Morocco and Rwanda have all come forward and expressed an intention to bid.. Now Nigeria has joined with Opus Race Promotions eyeing a new circuit in the capital of Abuja, alongside a karting track, hotels and a motorsport museum. Former Burnley and Bolton forward Sordell, who also played for Great Britain at the Olympics in London, is co-chief executive of the promotional company They have been officially appointed to negotiate on behalf of the Nigerian government with F1 and the FIA. The bid has 'early support' from the Nigerian government, claims The Times. F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali has been invited to visit Abuja to take a look at the project. He has admitted this season that talks are ongoing regarding a race in Africa but added: "I don't think we're going to have an outcome in the very short term." READ MORE: Lewis Hamilton admits 'refusing' Ferrari situation after crunch talks with bosses in Italy Shehu Dikko, chairman of the National Sports Commission in Nigeria, said: '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. This vision aligns with the Renewed Hope and Shared Prosperity vision of our president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.' South Africa was the last African nation to host a major global event across any sport when it had the World Cup back in 2010, which was won by Spain. Africa has never had the Olympics, but one of its countries does host the Africa Cup of Nations, so will have experience in putting on a major event. Lewis Hamilton has been among those constantly pushing for the sport to return to Africa and 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. "There's a huge amount of work needs to be done there. I think a lot of the world that haven't been there don't realise how beautiful the place is, how vast it is. And probably they don't even know what the countries are doing still to those places in terms of holding back."
The Independent
7 days ago
- Automotive
- The Independent
The country hoping to host F1's first African race for decades
Nigeria has become the latest African nation to express interest in hosting a Formula 1 Grand Prix, with former Premier League footballer Marvin Sordell leading the bid. The proposed project includes a new circuit in the capital, Abuja, alongside a karting track, hotels, and a motorsport museum. F1 has not held a race in Africa since 1993, but South Africa, Rwanda, and Morocco have also declared their intention to bid. F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali has been invited to visit Abuja, having previously expressed a desire to return to the continent. The current F1 calendar is at 24 races, but the Dutch Grand Prix will be removed after next year, and the Belgian Grand Prix will become biennial from 2028, potentially creating space for new venues.
The Independent
23-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
Nigeria enters race to host F1 grand prix in Africa – with ex-Premier League player fronting bid
Nigeria has become the latest African country to declare an interest in hosting a Formula 1 race, with ex-Premier League player Marvin Sordell fronting the bid. F1 currently hosts a race on every habitable continent apart from Africa, with the last iteration taking place 32 years ago via the 1993 South African Grand Prix at the Kyalami Circuit outside Johannesburg. Yet now, South Africa (with Kyalami and Cape Town vying to host), Rwanda and Morocco have all announced their intention to launch a bid. Now, Nigeria have joined the list, with Opus Race Promotions eyeing a new circuit in the capital of Abuja, alongside a karting track, hotels and a motorsport museum. Ex-Burnley and Bolton forward Sordell, who also played for Great Britain at the London 2012 Olympics, is co-chief executive of the promotional company which has now been officially appointed to negotiate on behalf of the Nigerian government with F1 and the FIA. A report in The Times states that the bid has 'early support' from the Nigerian government. F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali, who has made it known his desire to host a race once again in Africa, has been invited to visit Abuja to take a look at the project. Shehu Dikko, chairman of the National Sports Commission in Nigeria, said: '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. 'This vision aligns with the Renewed Hope and Shared Prosperity vision of our president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.' Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has previously insisted the sport must make an African grand prix a priority. Speaking last year, the Ferrari driver said: '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.' The race calendar is currently set at 24 races – a figure F1 nor the drivers are keen to increase. Yet the Dutch Grand Prix will be wiped from the calendar after next year's event, with Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium moving to a biennial deal in 2028, potentially paving the way for a new race. Other interested parties to host a race include Thailand (with a Bangkok street circuit in the works), South Korea and Argentina.
The Sun
22-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Former Premier League star, 34, at the front of sensational bid to return F1 to Africa with brand new track
FORMER Premier League star Marvin Sordell is fronting a sensational bid to bring Formula One to Africa, according to reports. Sordell, 34, is a co-chief executive and director for Opus Race Promotions, having retired from football in 2019 to then come out of it for non-league side Kettering Town. 4 4 4 Sordell played for both Bolton and Burnley in the Premier League, but is perhaps best known for his time in the Championship for clubs including Watford, Charlton and Burton Albion. His company has already gained "early support" from the Nigerian government over the prospect of getting the nation to host a grand prix. According to The Times, the plans include far more than simply hosting a race in the capital city of Abuja. The pledges made by Opus outline the building of a karting track, hotels, a technology hub, and a motorsport museum, among other infrastructure. Nigeria 's chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, invited the promoter to Nigeria in April to present a concept of their grand F1 designs. The proposal seemed to have left Dikko impressed, because a month later, the promoter was officially appointed to negotiate with F1 and the FIA on behalf of the Nigerian government. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has also reportedly been invited to Abuja by Opus to review the project. SunSport have contacted F1 for comment over the claims. Domenicali, 60, has repeatedly spoken about his desire to expand the motorsport into new markets. Africa is a major omission from the modern F1 calendar, with the last race on the continent happening at the Kyalami Circuit in South Africa back in 1993. The only other nation F1 has been to on the continent is Morocco, all the way back in 1958. F1 legend Lewis Hamilton has been a major voice pushing for the sport to add a race in Africa. Both South Africa and Rwanda have been among the front-runners linked with that lucrative possibility. However, speaking in May, Domenicali ruled out a race happening anytime soon, saying: "Realistically speaking, I don't think we're going to have an outcome in the very short term." A new European track in Madrid is being added next year in place of Italy 's famous Imola circuit. Meanwhile, Thailand appears on course to be the next new addition to F1. That's after the government there agreed to a roughly £890million funding plan for a street race in Bangkok, which could debut as early as 2028. The 2025 F1 season returns in Belgium this weekend after a two-week break following the chaotic British Grand Prix. 4
Scottish Sun
22-07-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Former Premier League star, 34, at the front of sensational bid to return F1 to Africa with brand new track
F1 seems to have already sorted its next street race in a major city Got it Sor-ted Former Premier League star, 34, at the front of sensational bid to return F1 to Africa with brand new track Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FORMER Premier League star Marvin Sordell is fronting a sensational bid to bring Formula One to Africa, according to reports. Sordell, 34, is a co-chief executive and director for Opus Race Promotions, having retired from football in 2019 to then come out of it for non-league side Kettering Town. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 F1 are reportedly in talks over a new race to be held in Nigeria Credit: Getty 4 The bid is being fronted by ex-Prem star Marvin Sordell Credit: PA 4 Stefano Domenicali has reportedly been invited to Abuja to review the project Credit: AFP Sordell played for both Bolton and Burnley in the Premier League, but is perhaps best known for his time in the Championship for clubs including Watford, Charlton and Burton Albion. His company has already gained "early support" from the Nigerian government over the prospect of getting the nation to host a grand prix. According to The Times, the plans include far more than simply hosting a race in the capital city of Abuja. The pledges made by Opus outline the building of a karting track, hotels, a technology hub, and a motorsport museum, among other infrastructure. READ MORE IN F1 GRIN AND BEAR IT Tearful Red Bull staff ordered to 'smile more' after Christian Horner axe Nigeria's chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, invited the promoter to Nigeria in April to present a concept of their grand F1 designs. The proposal seemed to have left Dikko impressed, because a month later, the promoter was officially appointed to negotiate with F1 and the FIA on behalf of the Nigerian government. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has also reportedly been invited to Abuja by Opus to review the project. SunSport have contacted F1 for comment over the claims. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Domenicali, 60, has repeatedly spoken about his desire to expand the motorsport into new markets. Africa is a major omission from the modern F1 calendar, with the last race on the continent happening at the Kyalami Circuit in South Africa back in 1993. Infamous abandoned F1 track that left icon blind in one eye used for completely different sport The only other nation F1 has been to on the continent is Morocco, all the way back in 1958. F1 legend Lewis Hamilton has been a major voice pushing for the sport to add a race in Africa. Both South Africa and Rwanda have been among the front-runners linked with that lucrative possibility. However, speaking in May, Domenicali ruled out a race happening anytime soon, saying: "Realistically speaking, I don't think we're going to have an outcome in the very short term." A new European track in Madrid is being added next year in place of Italy's famous Imola circuit. Meanwhile, Thailand appears on course to be the next new addition to F1. That's after the government there agreed to a roughly £890million funding plan for a street race in Bangkok, which could debut as early as 2028. The 2025 F1 season returns in Belgium this weekend after a two-week break following the chaotic British Grand Prix.
