Rwanda will host a Formula 1 race from the early 2030s under a 10-year agreement, marking the return of the sport to Africa after decades without a race on the continent.
Formula 1 announced the agreement on Tuesday, October 13, saying the African Grand Prix, presented by Visit Rwanda, would be held on a purpose-built circuit in Bugesera, about 40 kilometres south of the capital, Kigali.
“Formula 1 returns to Africa with 10 year agreement to race in Rwanda,” the sport’s official account announced on X.
The proposed circuit will be designed to work with the area’s natural landscape, using its elevation changes to create what Formula 1 described as a distinctive and challenging racing experience.
The announcement did not specify the exact year the race will debut on the calendar.
Rwanda’s selection gives the East African country an opportunity to position itself as a destination for international motorsport, tourism and major sporting events. The agreement also places the country among destinations seeking to attract global audiences through high-profile competitions.
Rwanda targets tourism and investment
Formula 1 President and Chief Executive Officer Stefano Domenicali described the agreement as a landmark moment for the sport, saying the return to Africa would bring the championship closer to fans across the continent.
“Africa has always been part of Formula 1’s future, and from the beginning we were determined to return in the right way, with the right partner, a long-term commitment and a clear vision for creating meaningful impact,” Domenicali said.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame said the agreement was intended to deliver long-term benefits beyond the race itself, including jobs, skills development, tourism and new business opportunities.
“This 10-year partnership is also an investment in Rwanda’s future,” Kagame said, adding that the country wanted to create lasting benefits rather than host a single race weekend.
Formula 1 estimates that Africa has more than 100 million fans, with almost 60 per cent of fans in key sub-Saharan African markets younger than 35. The sport sees the continent as an opportunity to expand its audience.
Africa’s long wait for Formula 1
The last Formula 1 Grand Prix on African soil was held at South Africa’s Kyalami circuit in 1993. Rwanda’s entry will end a more than three-decade absence from the championship calendar.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has repeatedly called for Formula 1 to return to Africa, arguing that the continent should be represented in a sport with a global following.
The return will also put Rwanda in competition with other African destinations that have sought to attract Formula 1, including South Africa, which has pursued the return of a Grand Prix at Kyalami.
The exact date of Rwanda’s inaugural race, construction milestones and race-weekend arrangements have not yet been announced. Formula 1 said the event would join the calendar once the new circuit is completed, which is expected in the early 2030s.
