Rwanda Set to Bring Formula One Back to Africa in Early 2030s
Rwanda is expected to host Africa’s first Formula One Grand Prix since 1993 under a decade-long agreement, with the race dependent on completion of a new circuit in Bugesera.
Rwanda is set to host a Formula One Grand Prix in the early 2030s under a decade-long agreement with Formula One, marking the championship’s return to Africa after more than three decades.
The race will be held once a new purpose-built circuit in Bugesera has been completed. Formula One has not announced an exact year or date for the event, and the agreement’s detailed terms have not been made public.
A return after 1993
The last Formula One race held in Africa was the 33rd South African Grand Prix, which was won by Alain Prost. Rwanda’s planned event will therefore be the continent’s first Formula One Grand Prix since 1993.
Rwanda has pursued a place on the Formula One calendar for several years. President Paul Kagame formally announced the country’s bid during a gathering of the FIA in December 2024.
Stefano Domenicali, Formula One’s chief executive, described the agreement as “a landmark moment for Formula One”. He said Rwanda’s arrival on the calendar would mean the championship races in every inhabited continent.
“Africa has always been part of Formula One’s future,” Domenicali said, adding that the return was being pursued through “the right partner, a long-term commitment and a clear vision for creating meaningful impact.”
Rwanda’s sports strategy
The Formula One agreement forms part of Rwanda’s broader use of sport to strengthen its international image, attract visitors and encourage investment.
The country has entered sponsorship agreements with Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain and partnered with the NBA to become the main hub of its African basketball league. Rwanda also hosted the previous year’s cycling world championships.
Critics, however, have described Rwanda’s high-profile sporting events and sponsorships as sports-washing in the context of accusations of human rights abuses. Those criticisms remain part of the debate surrounding the country’s sporting strategy.
Kagame welcomed the agreement as an important moment for the continent. “Today belongs to Africa,” he said, describing the partnership as long overdue and a milestone for African fans.
He also said the race could help create opportunities for additional events in Africa. “Ultimately, what we want is for the African Grand Prix to pave the way for other races to be hosted on the continent,” Kagame said.
South African bid remains unresolved
South Africa had also been seeking to host a Formula One race. Gayton McKenzie said Rwanda had worked on its bid longer than South Africa and deserved the opportunity.
McKenzie also predicted that South Africa would secure a Formula One race before 2030. That remains a prediction, and no confirmed South African race has been provided in the available information.
The timing of Rwanda’s Grand Prix will depend on the completion of the Bugesera circuit. Formula One has not disclosed the project’s construction schedule, design, funding arrangements or responsibilities.
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