F1 confirms African return with Rwanda grand prix deal
Words: Kyle Cassidy
Formula 1 will return to Africa for the first time since 1993 after signing a 10-year agreement to stage a grand prix in Rwanda.
The African Grand Prix, presented by Visit Rwanda, is expected to join the calendar in the early 2030s. It will take place at a new purpose-built circuit in Bugesera, approximately 40km south of the capital, Kigali, beside the new international airport. An exact debut year and race date have yet to be announced.
The announcement ends years of speculation about the championship’s return to the continent. Its last African round was the 1993 South African Grand Prix at Kyalami, won by Alain Prost ahead of Ayrton Senna. While South African organisers have continued pursuing a race, Rwanda has secured the new agreement.
Former F1 driver Alex Wurz and circuit designer Carsten Tilke are developing the new venue. Current plans call for a 6km anti-clockwise layout with 17 corners and 197 metres of elevation change across a lap.
The circuit will use two hills overlooking a lake, with banked and cambered corners intended to make the most of the terrain. Its designers say overtaking opportunities, different race strategies and keeping spectators close to the action have shaped the plans. The full layout has not yet been released.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has long advocated for an African race and has backed the championship’s efforts to return.
The Rwanda Development Board is leading the wider project, which combines motorsport with tourism, infrastructure and commercial development. Beyond grand prix weekends, the venue is intended to host conferences, entertainment and other major events. Plans also include karting facilities, a driving experience centre and off-road courses.
The agreement also brings scrutiny of Rwanda’s human rights record. Amnesty International has accused the country of “sportswashing” through sporting sponsorships, while the Democratic Republic of Congo previously urged F1 against an association with Rwanda amid conflict in eastern Congo.
