President Paul Kagame has announced a 10-year agreement for Rwanda to host a Formula One Grand Prix, marking a major step towards the championship's r
President Paul Kagame has announced a 10-year agreement for Rwanda to host a Formula One Grand Prix, marking a major step towards the championship’s return to Africa after nearly four decades.
The inaugural race is expected to take place in the early 2030s, bringing Formula One back to the continent for the first time since the 1993 South African Grand Prix.
The agreement follows years of discussions between Rwanda, Formula One and motorsport authorities over the conditions required to bring the championship back to Africa.
The race will be staged on a purpose-built circuit in Bugesera, about 40 kilometres south of Kigali and near the new Kigali International Airport.
The circuit will be developed to FIA Grade 1 standards as part of a wider sports, tourism and commercial development led by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB).
Designed around Bugesera’s natural landscape and elevation changes, the track is expected to provide a challenging racing experience for drivers while offering strong viewing opportunities for spectators.
Beyond Formula One race weekends, the facility is expected to host other motorsport competitions, conferences, major events and entertainment activities.
Kagame said the agreement would give African motorsport fans greater access to Formula One while opening opportunities for young people to pursue careers in motorsport and related industries.
He added that the development of the circuit, alongside the new international airport, would support employment, tourism, investment and business growth in Rwanda and the wider region.
Formula One’s return to Africa is also expected to open the championship to a growing audience on the continent. More than 100 million fans across Africa follow the sport, with nearly 60 per cent of fans in key Sub-Saharan African markets aged below 35.
COMMENTS
I wish I can live in that cozy house.