Rwanda signs 10-year deal to host Formula 1 African Grand Prix
Rwanda has signed a 10-year agreement with Formula 1 to host a Grand Prix in the country, with the first race expected to take place in the early 2030s.
The event, to be known as the African Grand Prix, will be staged on a purpose-built circuit in Bugesera, about 25 miles south of the capital, Kigali, and near the city’s new international airport. The race will mark F1’s return to Africa for the first time since 1993.
In a statement, Formula 1 said the agreement followed years of collaboration to establish the necessary foundations and partnerships for a successful, sustainable and world-class event that could be maintained for generations.
The circuit, designed by former F1 driver Alex Wurz, will incorporate the region’s natural landscape and elevation changes to create a challenging racing experience while offering spectators excellent views of the action.
Formula 1 hopes the event will help expand its presence across Africa, a market where the sport has yet to achieve the same level of reach as in Europe, Asia and the Americas.
However, the organisers have not yet determined where the race will fit into the annual calendar.
The event could also attract controversy, given previous accusations that Rwanda uses major sporting events and partnerships to improve its international image despite concerns over its human rights record.
Formula 1 is expected to avoid scheduling the race during Rwanda’s main rainy season, which runs from March to May. A shorter rainy period typically occurs between October and November.
The sport has also committed to keeping its calendar at a maximum of 24 races per season.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame described the agreement as a historic development, noting that Africa had been excluded from the championship for more than three decades.
He said Rwanda was proud to host the African Grand Prix and give more than 100 million F1 fans across the continent, many of them young people, the opportunity to experience the sport on home soil.
Kagame added that the Bugesera circuit, alongside the new international airport, was expected to generate employment, develop skills, attract tourists and create business opportunities for Rwanda and the wider region.
He stressed that the country’s ambition went beyond hosting a single race weekend, with the goal of delivering long-term benefits for its people.
Formula 1 president Stefano Domenicali also welcomed the agreement, describing it as a landmark moment that would enable the sport to race on every inhabited continent.
He said Africa had always been part of Formula 1’s long-term vision and that the return was being pursued through a lasting partnership designed to deliver meaningful benefits.
Sportswashing concerns
The agreement is expected to draw criticism from human rights organisations, which have accused Rwanda of using sporting partnerships to improve its global reputation. Similar concerns have been raised over the country’s sponsorship arrangements with English Premier League clubs Arsenal and Aston Villa.
Rwanda’s neighbour, the Democratic Republic of Congo, has also taken legal action against the country at the International Court of Justice, accusing it of violating several international treaties relating to genocide prevention, racial discrimination, women’s rights and torture.
A Formula 1 spokesperson said the agreement presented an opportunity to introduce the sport to around 100 million people across Africa, adding that sport could serve as a positive force for change.
However, Felix Jakens, Amnesty International UK’s head of campaigns, accused Rwanda of using major sporting platforms to enhance its image and divert attention from its human rights record.
He argued that Formula 1’s commitment to positive social impact would be undermined if it failed to consider the conduct of its partners.
Jakens urged the sport to use its influence to press the Rwandan authorities for reforms rather than allow its brand to be used for public relations purposes.
Construction of the circuit will be overseen by three companies, with established Formula 1 circuit designer Tilke and DAR working alongside WurzDesign, which is responsible for the track’s design.
The layout is expected to feature fast, flowing sections and significant elevation changes that take advantage of Rwanda’s hilly terrain.
History of Formula 1 in Africa
The first African race to count towards the Formula 1 World Championship took place in Morocco in 1958, serving as the final round of that season.
South Africa subsequently hosted races during the apartheid era, initially in East London between 1960 and 1966 before the event moved to Kyalami, near Johannesburg, where it was held from 1976 to 1985.
Kyalami returned to the calendar in 1992 and 1993 as apartheid was drawing to a close, with the 1993 event remaining the last Formula 1 race held on the continent.
South Africa has held discussions with Formula 1 in recent years about bringing the championship back, with Kyalami and Cape Town among the proposed venues. However, those efforts have yet to produce an agreement.
About The Author
