Formula One is finally returning to Africa and for the first time this century, Rwanda is agreeing a 10-year deal to host a Grand Prix from the early 2030s, the sport announced on Tuesday.
This ends a long wait for African fans as the last race took place on the continent was in 1993 at South Africa’s Kyalami circuit to the north of Johannesburg and has long sought a way back.
“Today is a landmark moment for Formula One,” said Chief Executive Stefano Domenicali at a press conference in the capital Kigali with Rwandan President Paul Kagame and International Automobile Federation (FIA) head Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
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“With Rwanda joining the calendar from the next decade, our sport will race in every inhabited continent, bringing the world championship closer than ever to fans around the globe.
“Africa has always been part of Formula One’s future, and from the beginning we were determined to return in the right way, with the right partner, a long-term commitment and a clear vision for creating meaningful impact.”
F1 back in Africa
Kagame announced his landlocked East African country’s bid two years ago, with plans for a purpose-built Grade One track near a new international airport under construction at Bugesera some 40km (25 miles) south of Kigali. The circuit is expected to be completed early in the next decade.
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