Rwanda Secures Formula 1 Return to Africa for the Early 2030s
Formula 1 will return to the African continent, with Rwanda selected to host a grand prix starting in the early 2030s. RacingNews365 first broke the news of the sport’s return in early October. The upcoming race brings an end to an absence that began after the 1993 grand prix held at Kyalami in South Africa.
The new African Grand Prix, presented by Visit Rwanda, will take place on a purpose-built circuit located in Bugesera, roughly 40 kilometers south of the capital city of Kigali. While various locations across the continent—including Kyalami as well as venues in Morocco and Nigeria—were previously touted as possible hosts, Rwanda secured the bid following a series of high-profile events. Kigali hosted the FIA general assembly and yearly prize-giving ceremony in 2024, while Paul Kagame has attended several grands prix in recent years and built warm relations with F1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali and FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
Circuit Design and Economic Aims in Bugesera
The planned facility will sit adjacent to the new Kigali International Airport. According to an official Formula 1 statement, the circuit will be designed to work in harmony with the natural landscape, using the area’s elevation changes to create a unique and challenging racing experience while delivering exceptional viewing opportunities for fans. Organizers intend for the venue to drive long-term economic growth and investment across the region.
Reflecting on the announcement, Paul Kagame stated that the news belongs to Africa and the continent’s 100 million fans.
Today belongs to Africa. For more than three decades, the world’s premier motorsport championship has raced without this continent, and that changes with this agreement,
Kagame said. Rwanda is proud to host the Formula 1 African Grand Prix, and to share this moment with more than 100 million fans across Africa, many of them young people who deserve to see the sport at home and to see themselves in it: as engineers, technicians, entrepreneurs and, one day, drivers.
Kagame added that the 10-year partnership serves as an investment in Rwanda’s future, bringing jobs, skills, tourism, and new business to the country and region.
A Historic Milestone for the FIA and Global Growth
Mohammed Ben Sulayem described the agreement as a historic moment for the championship and an important step in the continued global growth of motorsport.
The return of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship to Africa is a historic moment for our sport and an important step in the continued global growth of motorsport,
Ben Sulayem said. He noted that the FIA will work closely with FOM and local partners to develop the circuit to the highest international standards.
The project aligns with the long-standing advocacy of drivers such as Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time drivers’ champion has campaigned for F1 to race in Africa, stating earlier in the season that he would not retire until such a grand prix was held. Should the inaugural race take place in 2030, Hamilton will be 45 years old.
Frequently Asked Questions About the African Grand Prix
Where exactly will the new grand prix take place?
The race will be held on a new purpose-built track in Bugesera, which is situated about 40 kilometers south of the capital, Kigali, adjacent to the new Kigali International Airport.
When was the last Formula 1 race held in Africa?
The last grand prix on the continent took place in 1993 at the Kyalami circuit in South Africa.
What is the duration of the agreement with Rwanda?
The partnership between Formula 1 and Rwanda spans 10 years, beginning in the early 2030s.
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