Formula 1 is set to return to Africa for the first time since 1993 There will be a race in Rwanda

Formula 1 is preparing to return to Africa after more than thirty years away. Rumours that had been circulating in recent weeks have now received official confirmation, with the announcement of an agreement to bring a Grand Prix to Rwanda. The last race held on the African continent dates back to 1993, when South Africa hosted the World Championship at the Kyalami circuit.

When will the Rwanda Grand Prix take place?

Formula 1 has yet to announce an official date for Rwanda's inclusion in the calendar, stating only that the target is to hold the race in the early years of the next decade, from 2030 onwards. The timeline is also linked to the need to build a circuit from scratch. According to the announcement, the track will be located in Bugesera, around 40 kilometres from the capital, Kigali, with construction expected to be completed in the early 2030s. However, at the moment, there isn’t even a final design for the circuit, which is currently being worked on by WurzDesign and Tilke Engineers and Architects. Perhaps the most surprising detail to emerge from the announcement, however, is that the agreement will run for 10 years.

The role of Visit Rwanda

The project will be promoted by Visit Rwanda, the country's national tourism board, which has already established a strong presence through numerous partnerships across the sporting world. Rwanda has also secured the right to host the 2025 UCI Road World Championships. Its involvement in the Formula 1 project is no coincidence, but rather part of a broader strategy through which the Rwandan government aims to raise the country's international profile, attract investment and strengthen its image as a high-end tourist destination.

A potential Grand Prix would represent a new chapter in this strategy, placing Rwanda at the centre of one of the world's most widely followed sporting events. It remains to be seen when the project will become a reality and what form the Bugesera circuit will take. For now, Formula 1's return to Africa remains a stated ambition; bringing it to fruition will depend on the development of the necessary infrastructure and the steps required for Rwanda to officially join the calendar.