{"id":52261,"date":"2024-12-15T09:09:07","date_gmt":"2024-12-15T09:09:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/a-historic-evening-of-glitz-and-glamour-at-the-fia-awards-in-rwanda\/"},"modified":"2024-12-17T07:05:34","modified_gmt":"2024-12-17T07:05:34","slug":"a-historic-evening-of-glitz-and-glamour-at-the-fia-awards-in-rwanda","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/a-historic-evening-of-glitz-and-glamour-at-the-fia-awards-in-rwanda\/","title":{"rendered":"A historic evening of glitz and glamour at the FIA Awards in Rwanda"},"content":{"rendered":"

The BK Arena in Kigali transformed into a grand stage, glittering with elegance and excitement, to honor the brightest stars in motorsport. The event also marked the 120th anniversary of the F\u00e9d\u00e9ration Internationale de l\u2019Automobile (FIA), a milestone that added an extra layer of significance to an already monumental evening.<\/p>\n

Among the dignitaries in attendance was President Paul Kagame, whose sharp black suit and bowtie matched the evening\u2019s elegance.<\/p>\n

Joined by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, Kagame played a central role in awarding the night\u2019s top honorees. The event celebrated achievements across FIA Championships, including the Formula One World Championship, the FIA World Rally Championship, and the FIA World Endurance Championship, among others.<\/p>\n

At the heart of the celebration was Red Bull\u2019s Max Verstappen, who clinched his fourth consecutive Formula One World Championship. Verstappen, one of only six drivers in history to achieve four or more titles, received his trophy from the Head of State.<\/p>\n

Standing under the spotlight, the Dutch driver reflected on the challenges of the season: \u201cIt\u2019s amazing. Four titles is definitely incredible. This year the competition was very close, but my team and I pushed through,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"At<\/figure>\n

Despite a less dominant car compared to previous seasons, Verstappen\u2019s unparalleled consistency and skill secured his place at the pinnacle of the sport. McLaren\u2019s resurgence in 2024 was another highlight of the evening. The British team claimed their ninth Constructors\u2019 Championship\u2014a title they had last won 26 years ago. <\/p>\n

Lando Norris, who finished second in the drivers\u2019 standings, congratulated Verstappen while expressing hopes for a more competitive 2025 season: \u201cIf we had a better car at the beginning of the year, we would have been fighting him a lot more. But hats off to Max; his achievements this year were phenomenal.\u201d<\/p>\n

The FIA\u2019s inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award was bestowed upon Mich\u00e8le Mouton, a trailblazer in motorsport whose career has inspired generations. Her award was a moment of pride, underscoring the FIA\u2019s commitment to honoring legends who have shaped the sport\u2019s history.<\/p>\n

The ceremony also spotlighted rising stars. Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto, the 2024 Formula 2 champion, was named Rookie of the Year as he prepares to step up to Formula One with Sauber next season.<\/p>\n

In karting, Ethan Jeff-Hall and Kenzo Craigie were crowned champions in the OK and Junior categories, respectively, showcasing the future of motorsport.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/figure>\n

Toyota Gazoo Racing emerged as a dominant force, securing multiple titles, including the FIA World Endurance Championship and the World Rally-Raid Championship. Nasser Al-Attiyah, representing the team, claimed the World Rally-Raid driver\u2019s title, while Thierry Neuville was celebrated as the FIA World Rally Champion.<\/p>\n

Formula E, a championship that continues to grow in prestige, saw Pascal Wehrlein crowned as the ABB FIA Formula E World Champion, with Jaguar TCS claiming the Team Championship. Meanwhile, Johan Kristoffersson added another accolade to his illustrious career by winning the FIA World Rallycross Championship.<\/p>\n

The evening was not just about the winners but also about Rwanda\u2019s growing prominence on the global stage. The FIA Awards coincided with the closure of the FIA General Assembly, which brought over 800 delegates from around the world to Kigali.<\/p>\n

The culmination of this gathering, the awards ceremony, was a powerful statement of Rwanda\u2019s ambition to become a hub for motorsport. President Kagame hinted at the nation\u2019s future in the sport, announcing Rwanda\u2019s bid to host a Formula One Grand Prix as the series eyes a return to Africa.<\/p>\n

\"Joined<\/figure>\n

Hosted by Kigali-based Rwandan-Jamaican media personality Makeda Mahadeo, the ceremony combined elegance with electrifying energy. The BK Arena was transformed into a visual spectacle, with dazzling lights and massive screens showcasing highlights from the year.<\/p>\n

The winning cars, wheeled onto the stage, served as a vivid reminder of the innovation and determination that define motorsport. For the 53,000 viewers who tuned in live and the hundreds in attendance, the night was more than an awards ceremony; it was a celebration of excellence, resilience, and the unifying power of sport.<\/p>\n

As the crowd roared in applause for each honoree, it was clear that the spirit of motorsport had found a perfect home in Rwanda.<\/p>\n

The evening\u2019s success underscores the FIA\u2019s vision of making motorsport more inclusive and globally accessible. It also reflects Rwanda\u2019s ability to host world-class events, further solidifying its position as a leader in innovation and ambition on the continent.<\/p>\n

As the lights dimmed and the ceremony came to an end, the echoes of a historic night lingered. For the drivers, teams, and fans, it was a moment to celebrate the past year and look forward to the possibilities of the future.<\/p>\n

For Rwanda, it was a statement to the world: the country is ready to take its place at the heart of global motorsport. What an evening to remember!<\/p>\n

\"Verstappen,<\/figure>\n
\"Standing<\/figure>\n
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The FIA Awards on Friday, December 13, 2024, will be etched in history as a night of unparalleled glamour and celebration, as Rwanda became the first African nation to host this prestigious event.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":135,"featured_media":2000078805,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[75],"byline":[3135],"hashtag":[],"class_list":["post-52261","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-homenews","byline-sam-k-nkurunziza-2"],"bylines":[{"id":3135,"name":"Sam K Nkurunziza","slug":"sam-k-nkurunziza-2","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":null}],"contributors":[{"id":3135,"name":"Sam K Nkurunziza","slug":"sam-k-nkurunziza-2","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":null}],"featured_image":{"id":2000078805,"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/profile-144.jpg","alt":"","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","width":0,"height":0,"sizes":{"thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/profile-144.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"medium":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/profile-144.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"medium_large":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/profile-144.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"large":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/profile-144.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"full":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/profile-144.jpg","width":0,"height":0}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52261","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/135"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=52261"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52261\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2000078805"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=52261"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=52261"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=52261"},{"taxonomy":"byline","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/byline?post=52261"},{"taxonomy":"hashtag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hashtag?post=52261"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}