Rwanda to Host F1 African Grand Prix in ‘Early 2030s’

A new F1 track in the East African nation will begin construction soon and is expected to be ready "early in the next decade."
Ayrton Senna, Damon Hill, McLaren- Ford MP4/8, Williams-Renault FW15C, Grand Prix of South-Africa, Kyalami, 14 March 1993. (Photo by Paul-Henri Cahier/Getty Images)
Paul-Henri Cahier via Getty

The pinnacle of motor racing will return to the African continent in the early 2030s, Formula 1 and FIA leadership confirmed Tuesday morning. Rwanda in East Africa will host the first GP in Bugesera, where a new, F1-specific circuit will be built over the coming years. Completion of the track is expected “early in the next decade.”

The announcement shared no other specifics, only that the track will sit at the center of a larger complex with sports, tourism, and commercial ventures. It will be located about 25 miles south of the capital city, Kigali, and strategically built near the new Kigali International Airport, which should help with event logistics.

Ayrton Senna of Brazil drives the #8 Marlboro McLaren McLaren MP4/8 Ford HBE7 V8 during the Yellow Pages South African Grand Prix on 14 March 1993 at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit in Kyalami, South Africa.(Photo by Pascal Rondeau/Getty Images)
Pascal Rondeau via Getty

Rwandan President Paul Kagame said the deal represented “a success and a milestone for the entire continent, especially for the African fans,” adding that “For more than three decades, the world’s premier motorsport championship has raced without this continent, and that changes with this agreement.”

The continent last hosted an F1 race in 1993, the South African Grand Prix at the Kyalami Circuit, where Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, and Mark Blundell took to the podium.

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Jerry Perez Avatar

Jerry Perez

Deputy Editor

As deputy editor, Jerry draws on a decade of industry experience and a lifelong passion for motorsports to guide The Drive’s short- and long-term coverage.


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