Formula One has returned to the spotlight in Kenya after SportPesa unveiled a full-scale replica of the 2019 Racing Point Formula One car at the Africa Concours d’Elegance at the Ngong Racecourse on Sunday, September 27, 2026.
The unveiling marked a fresh chapter in SportPesa’s motorsport activities in Kenya, reviving memories of its association with the Racing Point F1 team during the 2019 season.
The team, which featured Mexican driver Sergio Perez and Canadian Lance Stroll, competed under the SportPesa Racing Point banner that season.
The replica displayed at the Concours has been designed to recreate the look and identity of the Racing Point car, giving Kenyan motorsport enthusiasts an opportunity to see a Formula One-style machine up close.
SportPesa plans nationwide tour
SportPesa says the car will not remain at the Ngong Racecourse, with plans underway to take it to shopping malls and other public spaces across Kenya.
The initiative, dubbed “Home for Good”, is intended to give more Kenyans an opportunity to experience the car without having to travel abroad to attend a Formula One Grand Prix.
SportPesa Head of Operations Benard Chauro said the company’s previous involvement in Formula One created a lasting connection with Kenyan fans.
“We have a genuine connection to Formula 1. In 2019, Kenyans watched SportPesa Racing Point compete on the world stage, and that created a connection with motorsport fans that has stayed with us. Bringing this car home is about reconnecting with that history and giving people the opportunity to experience it beyond the screen,” he said.
Chauro said the replica would now be taken closer to the public.
“This car is here for good. It belongs to Kenya and to every fan who has ever dreamed of standing next to an F1 car. We want to take it to the people, to malls and public spaces, so that more Kenyans can get up close to the Formula 1 experience,” he added.
Concours provides motorsport backdrop
The unveiling formed part of the Africa Concours d’Elegance, an event that brings together classic and modern motoring, motorsport enthusiasts and automobile owners at the historic Ngong Racecourse.
Peter Wanday, chairman of the Alfa Romeo Owners Club, welcomed SportPesa’s involvement in the event and expressed hope that the partnership would contribute to the growth of motor racing in Kenya.
“We welcome SportPesa to this year’s Concours d’Elegance, and we hope this is the start of a long partnership for motor racing in this country.
“For 56 editions, Concours has celebrated the finest in motoring, and having a Formula 1 car here for the first time is a fitting way to mark that history. We look forward to what this partnership can build for the sport in Kenya.”
SportPesa said the initiative is also aimed at creating a new way for Kenyan fans to engage with Formula One through its cars, design and motorsport heritage.
The company is expected to announce details of the planned mall tour in the coming days, with the replica set to travel to different locations across the country.
The move comes as interest in motorsport continues to grow in Kenya, which has hosted major international racing events and has a long-standing culture of motor racing.
