Rwanda are set to host a F1 race after a 10-year contract was agreed for a new African Grand Prix in the 2030s.
The news marks a step closer towards F1 returning to Africa after a near four-decade absence, having last raced on the continent in 1993 at Kyalami Circuit, South Africa.
There is no set timeframe for the start of the contract which is subject to the building of a new circuit in Bugesera, Rwanda, which won’t be completed until the early 2030s, and is projected to be designed to FIA Grade 1 standards.
F1 President and CEO, Stefano Domenicali has hailed the announcement as a “landmark moment” in modern F1 to see the sport racing on every continent again.
“With Rwanda joining the calendar from the next decade, our sport will race in every inhabited continent, bringing the World Championship closer than ever to fans around the globe.
“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.
“I would like to thank His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, the Government of Rwanda, the Rwanda Development Board, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem and everyone whose dedication and collaboration have made this possible.
“This is about much more than hosting a Grand Prix. Together, we can create lasting economic and social benefits through tourism, investment, skills development and local business growth, ensuring the positive impact of this event is felt for generations.
“For our fans, this is an especially exciting moment. Africa is home to more than 100 million Formula 1 fans, and that number continues to grow rapidly. We are bringing the excitement, energy and drama of Formula 1 closer to millions of people who have waited a long time to see our sport return to the continent, and we look forward to writing an exciting new chapter together.”
Kagame added that this announcement marks the beginning of F1’s journey back to Africa and iterated that the ten-year contract will also allow the country to invest in Rwanda’s future from employment to tourism and enterprise.
“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.
“This 10-year partnership is also an investment in Rwanda’s future. The circuit in Bugesera, alongside the new international airport, will bring jobs, skills, tourism and new business to our country and our region for decades to come, because our aim was never a single race weekend, but a lasting benefit for our people.
“I thank Stefano Domenicali, Formula 1 and Mohammed Ben Sulayem for the work that has brought us to this day. We look forward to welcoming the world to Rwanda for the African Grand Prix.”
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