Formula 1 returns to Africa after 33 years with 10-year Rwanda Grand Prix deal
Formula 1 has announced a 10-year agreement to return to Africa, with Rwanda selected to host the African Grand Prix from the early 2030s. The post Formula 1 returns to Africa after 33 years with 10-year Rwanda Grand…
Formula 1 last raced on African soil in 1993, when South Africa's Kyalami circuit hosted its final grand prix before the sport's calendar expanded heavily into Asia, the Middle East and the Americas. Africa has since been the only inhabited continent without a round on the F1 calendar, despite periodic talk of a return, including past interest from South Africa. The new deal marks the first time the sport has committed to a long-term African fixture, reflecting F1's push under its current ownership to globalise the sport and tap into new markets and fan bases.
For Rwanda, the agreement fits a broader state strategy of using high-profile sporting and tourism investments — including its "Visit Rwanda" sponsorship deals with football clubs and hosting major cycling and conferencing events — to raise its international profile and attract foreign investment. Details such as the exact cost of building the Bugesera circuit, race financing, and ticketing plans have not yet been disclosed, and both outlets note the race is still roughly a decade away, with the early 2030s start date leaving room for construction and broader economic questions to be addressed.