Motorsports could "soon be making much more of a splash in Africa," according to Marc Mcilhone of AFRICANBRAINS. Several high-profile players in the world of motorsport "are campaigning and adding their voice to the many others who want Africa to play a significant part in the various sports." Africa's "increasing prosperity is a huge factor in its attractiveness." Since '00, and despite the financial crisis of '08, Africa's GDP has "increased by almost 5% every year," a rate that is twice as fast as it was back in the '80s and '90s. This has resulted in a "boom in global industries such as banking and telecommunications, as well as a huge surge in retail." Perhaps the "real test as to whether motorsports can gain a significant foothold in the African continent" will be whether the most famous racing event, Formula 1, "will ever return there." The last time F1 was held on African soil was back in '93, but F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone is making "every effort" to see it return for '16, possibly in Cape Town (AFRICANBRAINS, 7/6).
