KEY POINTS
- Rwanda bids to host a Formula One race in Africa.
- Proposed race track to be built near Bugesera Airport.
- Lewis Hamilton backs Africa’s inclusion in Formula One.
For the first time since 1993, Africa could see the return of Formula One racing. On Friday, Rwandan President Paul Kagame announced the country’s official bid to host a Formula One Grand Prix. The announcement was made during the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) General Assembly in Kigali, Rwanda’s capital.
The bid aims to position Rwanda as a key player in global motorsports and boost tourism and economic development in the region. President Kagame expressed his country’s commitment to the project and revealed that discussions with Formula One officials were already underway.
“I am happy to formally announce that Rwanda is bidding to bring the thrill of racing back to Africa by hosting a Formula One Grand Prix,” Kagame declared during his address.
Kagame thanked Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali for the ongoing negotiations, assuring stakeholders of Rwanda’s commitment to meeting the expectations for a world-class event.
“We are approaching this opportunity with the seriousness and commitment which it deserves. Together we will build something we can all be proud of,” Kagame added.
Formula One last held a race on African soil in 1993 at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit in South Africa. Since then, calls for Africa’s inclusion on the racing calendar have grown louder, with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton being a vocal advocate for an African Grand Prix.
Permanent race circuit proposed for Kigali’s Bugesera district
According to reports, Rwanda plans to build a permanent Formula One racing circuit near the Bugesera International Airport, 40 kilometers from Kigali.
The project would be designed by Test and Training International, a company owned by Austrian former F1 racer Alexander Wurz.
A permanent race track could transform Rwanda into a regional motorsport hub, allowing for year-round racing activities and further bolstering tourism. The airport’s proximity to the proposed track offers a strategic advantage for logistics and international travel.
The plan has garnered support from FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who spoke highly of Rwanda’s role in the future of motorsport on the continent.
“To be here in Rwanda for such an important moment in the FIA’s calendar is a testament to the strength of this nation, in particular its growing influence in motorsport,” he said.
According to Reuters, he highlighted Rwanda’s alignment with FIA’s key objectives, including sustainability, innovation, and road safety. “The future of motorsport in Africa is bright,” Ben Sulayem declared.
Motorsport advocates rally behind Rwanda’s F1 bid
Rwanda’s bid for a Formula One race has sparked excitement among motorsport enthusiasts, with many hoping it will bring global attention to the continent.
F1 champion Lewis Hamilton, a long-time advocate for an African Grand Prix, has consistently highlighted the need for Africa’s inclusion on the race calendar.
“The time is 100 percent right. We can’t be adding races in other locations and continue to ignore Africa, which the rest of the world just takes from,” Hamilton remarked earlier this year.
He emphasized that having a Grand Prix in Africa would showcase the continent’s potential, attract tourism, and drive investment.
With support from high-profile figures and FIA officials, Rwanda’s F1 bid is seen as a timely opportunity to boost the visibility of African motorsport on the global stage.
The race could offer a unique chance to demonstrate Africa’s ability to host world-class sporting events, just as Rwanda did with the successful hosting of the 2022 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
