By Dara Ojomo
Formula 1 is returning to Africa for the first time in over three decades, with Rwanda confirmed as the host of a new African Grand Prix.
The announcement came Tuesday at a press conference in Kigali, where F1 and the Rwandan government announced a 10-year deal for the race, which will be known officially as the “Formula 1 African Grand Prix, presented by Visit Rwanda.” The event was attended by Rwandan President Paul Kagame, F1 CEO and President Stefano Domenicali, and FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
The race will mark Africa’s return to the F1 calendar for the first time since the 1993 South African Grand Prix at Kyalami, a 37-year gap. The first edition could take place as early as 2032, though no official date has been confirmed.
The race will be held on a purpose-built circuit in Bugesera, roughly 40 kilometres south of Kigali, next to the new Bugesera International Airport currently under construction. The track’s layout is still being finalized, a joint effort between WurzDesign, led by former F1 driver Alex Wurz, and Tilke Engineers and Architects, the firm behind several existing F1 circuits including Malaysia’s Sepang.
Rwanda beat out other interested parties, including multiple bids from South Africa, to secure the hosting agreement. The country has built a track record hosting major global events in recent years, including the UCI Road World Championships and the Basketball Africa League.
Domenicali called the moment a landmark one for the sport, while seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, a long-time advocate for an African race, welcomed the news, having pushed privately for years to get African stakeholders and F1 to the table.
More than 100 million fans follow F1 across the African continent, with almost 60% of fans in key Sub-Saharan African markets under the age of 35, a demographic F1 has been eager to tap into as it expands its global footprint.
