President Paul Kagame has announced a 10-year agreement for Rwanda
Rwanda will host a Formula One Grand Prix under a ten-year agreement announced by President Paul Kagame, a deal that sets the stage for the world’s premier motorsport championship to return to Africa after an absence of almost 40 years.
The first race is expected to be held in the early 2030s. Africa has not featured on the Formula One calendar since the 1993 South African Grand Prix.
The announcement is the result of several years of talks between Rwanda, Formula One and motorsport’s governing bodies on the conditions needed to bring the sport back to the continent.
A new circuit in Bugesera
The Grand Prix will take place on a circuit to be built specifically for the event in Bugesera District, some 40 kilometres south of Kigali and close to the new Kigali International Airport.
The track will meet FIA Grade 1 standards, the highest level required to host Formula One, and forms part of a broader sports, tourism and commercial project led by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB).
Its layout will follow Bugesera’s natural terrain and elevation changes, a design meant to test drivers while giving spectators good vantage points around the circuit.
When it is not hosting Formula One, the venue is expected to be used for other motorsport events as well as conferences, large gatherings and entertainment.
Opportunities for youth and the economy
President Kagame said the deal would bring Formula One closer to fans across Africa and create openings for young people seeking careers in motorsport and related fields.
He said the circuit, together with the new airport, would help generate jobs and boost tourism, investment and business activity in Rwanda and across the region.
The move is also expected to help Formula One tap into a fast-growing African fan base. More than 100 million people on the continent follow the sport, and close to 60 per cent of fans in key Sub-Saharan markets are under the age of 35.
Organisers say the project is intended to deliver lasting economic and social gains, including new jobs, local skills development, support for businesses and fresh investment.
A growing sports destination
The Grand Prix, presented by Visit Rwanda, adds to a growing list of major international events the country has staged in recent years. These include the UCI Road World Championships, the Basketball Africa League, the 2023 FIFA Congress, and the 2024 FIA General Assemblies and FIA Awards Ceremony.
Officials expect the race to strengthen Rwanda’s drive to attract visitors, investors and international companies.
Global motorsport leaders welcome the deal
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), said the sport’s return to Africa would widen its reach and help nurture talent on the continent. He added that the FIA would work closely with Formula One and its partners to make sure the new circuit complies with international safety and technical requirements.
Formula One president and chief executive Stefano Domenicali said Rwanda’s inclusion means the championship will race on every inhabited continent from the next decade. He said the partnership aims to leave a lasting legacy through tourism, investment, skills development and opportunities for local businesses.
Details of the inaugural race date, construction timeline and race-weekend arrangements are expected to be announced at a later stage.
