Rwanda has secured a 10-year agreement to host a Formula One Grand Prix from the early 2030s, marking the sport’s return to Africa for the first time since 1993.
Formula One announced the agreement on Tuesday at a press conference in Kigali, attended by the sport’s Chief Executive, Stefano Domenicali, Rwandan President Paul Kagame and International Automobile Federation (FIA) President Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
Formula One last raced in Africa in 1993 at South Africa’s Kyalami circuit, near Johannesburg, and has since sought to return to the continent.
“Today is a landmark moment for Formula One,” Domenicali said.
He said Rwanda’s inclusion in the calendar would enable the championship to race on every inhabited continent, bringing the sport closer to fans worldwide.
“Africa has always been part of Formula One’s future, and from the beginning we were determined to return in the right way, with the right partner, a long-term commitment and a clear vision for creating meaningful impact,” he added.
Kagame announced Rwanda’s bid to host a race two years ago, proposing a purpose-built circuit near the new international airport under construction at Bugesera, about 40 kilometres south of Kigali.
The circuit is expected to be completed early in the next decade.
Rwanda will become the third African country to host a round of the championship, which began in 1950. Morocco previously hosted a race outside Casablanca in 1958, while South Africa staged races at Kyalami and other venues.
Domenicali said the agreement went beyond hosting a race, highlighting its potential to generate economic and social benefits through tourism and investment.
He added that Africa was home to more than 100 million Formula One fans, with the number continuing to grow.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who races for Ferrari, has repeatedly called for the sport to return to Africa.
Speaking to reporters in Singapore last weekend, the 41-year-old said the continent deserved a place on the calendar, noting that Formula One already raced across other continents.
South Africa has also pursued a return to the calendar, with Cape Town and Kyalami among the proposed venues.
However, Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie welcomed Rwanda’s agreement, saying the country had worked on its bid longer than South Africa and deserved the opportunity.
He also argued that Rwanda’s selection did not rule out the possibility of South Africa hosting a race in the future.
Beyond motorsport, Rwanda has promoted itself as a tourism and investment destination through its ‘Visit Rwanda’ campaign, which includes sponsorships in football, basketball and cycling.
The country hosted the 2025 UCI Road World Championships, the 2023 FIFA Congress and the 2024 FIA Awards ceremony.
Kagame described the Formula One agreement as an investment in Rwanda’s future, saying the circuit and the new airport would create jobs, develop skills and attract tourists and businesses to the country and the wider region.
