Kenyan motorsport fans were treated to a major dose of Formula One nostalgia on Sunday as SportPesa unveiled a full-scale replica of the iconic 2019 Racing Point Formula One car at the 54th Africa Concours d’Elegance at the Ngong Racecourse in Nairobi.
The striking machine, which carries the distinctive livery of the BWT Racing Point SportPesa F1 Team, became one of the major attractions at this year’s prestigious motoring event.
The historic moment brought back memories of the period when a Kenyan brand made an unprecedented entry onto the exclusive Formula One grid.
The unveiling marked what SportPesa described as a homecoming for the car, under the theme “Coming Home for Good”, reconnecting the Kenyan public with one of the most significant chapters in the country’s modern sporting and marketing history.
The Concours d’Elegance, traditionally a celebration of classic and vintage cars and motorcycles, provided an appropriate setting for the Racing Point machine to make its Kenyan public debut.
“This is a huge moment for every Formula One fan in the country as we bring the car home for the first time.
“Having the car here provides a perfect opportunity for Kenyans to get up close to it, giving them the chance to experience it live and away from the screen,” SportPesa’s Head of Operations Bernard Chauro said on Sunday.
The team competed during the 2019 Formula One season with Mexican driver Sergio Pérez and Canadian racer Lance Stroll.
For many Kenyan fans who followed Pérez and Stroll during the 2019 season, seeing the car physically displayed in Nairobi offered an experience that television and social media could never quite replicate.
ALSO READ: SportPesa to unveil 2019 Racing Point F1 show car at Nairobi Concours d’Elegance 2026
Hundreds of fans could not contain their pure joy and excitement as the car was unveiled, undoubtedly making this historic occasion one for the books.
“I still can’t believe that there’s an F1 car here in Kenya, it’s absolutely insane. As soon as it was announced that it would be on display here, there was no way I was missing this event.
“I haven’t been to Concours in years and if ever there was something that would bring me back, this was definitely it,” William Mburu, a former rally co-driver told SportPesa’s blog.
SportPesa’s association with Formula One dates back to 2019, when the Kenyan company became the title sponsor of Racing Point, creating the BWT Racing Point SportPesa F1 Team.
The partnership placed the SportPesa name on one of the biggest sporting stages in the world and made the company the first African company to secure a title sponsorship in Formula One.
“The car is here for good. For every Kenyan who has dreamed of the chance to stand next to a Formula One car, this if for you.
“We want to make it accessible by taking it to public places and malls across the country, giving everyone the chance – so this is just the beginning,” Chauro added.
While it closely replicates the appearance, design and livery of the original Formula One car, SportPesa has clarified that the vehicle on display is a show car rather than the original race machine and does not have a functioning engine.
The predominantly pink BWT livery immediately recalls Racing Point’s 2019 identity, while SportPesa branding features prominently on the car’s exterior.
The original RP19 was powered by a 1.6-litre Mercedes V6 turbo-hybrid power unit, incorporating Formula One’s sophisticated energy-recovery technology.
It was a highly complex piece of engineering designed to deliver enormous performance while operating within Formula One’s strict technical regulations.
“We are very pleased to welcome SportPesa to this years’ edition of Concours d’Elegance, and we hope this is the start of a long partnership for motor sports in Kenya.
“For over 50 editions, we have celebrated cars and motoring at this event. Having a Formula One car here for the first time is the perfect way to mark that slice of history for sport in this country,” Alfa Romeo Owners Club Chairman Peter Wanday offered.
The Racing Point reunion also comes as SportPesa continues to maintain a presence in motorsport, supporting Kenyan rally drivers Leo Varese and Kiigo Kariithi, for almost a decade.
SportPesa has also been involved in the 2026 Safari Rally, one of Africa’s most celebrated motorsport events, further showing the lengths the company is ready to reach to further sports in the nation.
“This has to be the best unveiling this country has ever seen. I cannot fully put into words how being one of the first people to experience this piece of history has made me feel.
“As someone who has been involved in Motorsport for decades, this is a very special moment and we have to give SportPesa their flowers for giving all of us this opportunity,” Kariithi exclaimed.
The Formula One replica will begin a tour within the country to give more fans the chance to come up close and experience it, with more details on the same to be announced soon.