--- title: "Rwanda to Host F1 African Grand Prix in ‘Early 2030s’" date: "2026-10-13" modified: "2026-10-13" authors: - name: "Jerry Perez" job_title: "Deputy Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez.md" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/rwanda-to-host-f1-african-grand-prix-in-early-2030s" categories: - "F1" - "News" - "Racing" --- # Rwanda to Host F1 African Grand Prix in ‘Early 2030s’ ![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. *Got a tip? Email us at tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter. ### Author social links [Instagram]()