Rwanda has secured a 10-year deal to host the African Grand Prix, bringing the Formula 1 World Championship back to the continent for the first time since 1993. The race is expected to join the calendar in the early 2030s, following the construction of a new circuit in Bugesera, south of the capital, Kigali.
Announced on October 13, the deal will see the Formula 1 African Grand Prix, presented by Visit Rwanda, staged on a purpose-built track near the new Kigali International Airport, approximately 25 miles (40 kilometers) from the capital.
The circuit is planned to meet Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) Grade 1 standards, which are required to host championship races. The Rwanda Development Board is leading the project as part of the country’s broader sports, tourism and infrastructure plans.
Formula 1 said the deal followed years of collaboration to establish the foundations for a successful, sustainable race in Africa. Further details, including the date of the inaugural Grand Prix and the circuit’s development schedule, are expected to be announced in due course.
The announcement marks a milestone in the championship’s return to a continent it has not visited for more than three decades. The last African race took place at the South African Grand Prix at Kyalami in 1993. Morocco previously hosted a World Championship race in 1958.
Rwanda is now preparing to become the next African host of a Formula 1 Grand Prix, although the inaugural race will depend on the completion of the new circuit.
