Rwanda is reportedly set to bring Formula 1 back to Africa in 2030, with a new permanent racing circuit planned in Bugesera District, about 40 kilometres from Kigali.
Reports from the Formula 1 paddock indicate that Rwanda has reached an agreement in principle to host a Grand Prix, potentially ending the continent’s 37-year wait for a Formula 1 race.
The proposed race would mark the first Formula 1 event on African soil since the 1993 South African Grand Prix at Kyalami.
However, Formula 1 and the FIA have yet to make a formal announcement confirming the deal. Reports indicate that an official announcement could come in the coming weeks or before the end of 2026.
Rwanda plans to host the race at a purpose-built permanent circuit in Bugesera District. The proposed facility will sit roughly 40 kilometres from Kigali and close to Bugesera International Airport, giving the project direct access to one of the country’s key international transport hubs.
The location could make it easier for Rwanda to accommodate the movement of Formula 1 teams, cars, equipment and international visitors during the race weekend.
Formula 1 transports significant amounts of equipment between races, making airport access an important consideration when developing a new Grand Prix venue.
The circuit itself will require extensive construction and safety infrastructure before it can host Formula 1 machinery.
Rwanda will also need to secure the necessary FIA Grade 1 certification, which is required for circuits that host Formula 1 races.
Former Formula 1 driver Alexander Wurz and his company, WurzDesign, are involved in the proposed circuit’s design.
Wurz, who competed in Formula 1 for Benetton, McLaren and Williams, has increasingly worked on motorsport circuit design following his racing career.
Tilke Engineering is also involved in the project. The German engineering company has designed and developed several major modern motorsport venues around the world.
The Rwanda circuit is expected to make use of the country’s naturally undulating landscape. Rwanda is known as the “Land of a Thousand Hills”, and the proposed venue could incorporate elevation changes into its layout.
The final circuit design, including its length, number of corners and layout, has not yet been formally unveiled.
Rwanda’s ambitions to host Formula 1 became public in December 2024 when President Paul Kagame announced the country’s bid during the FIA General Assembly in Kigali.
Kagame said Rwanda was serious about bringing the sport to the country and had begun discussions aimed at securing a place on the F1 calendar.
The country’s campaign subsequently placed it in competition with South Africa, which had also pursued a return to the Formula 1 calendar.
South Africa explored options involving the historic Kyalami circuit as well as a possible street race in Cape Town.
South African Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie has since congratulated Rwanda on the reported breakthrough, acknowledging the country’s efforts to secure the race.
Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has also been vocal about the need for the sport to return to Africa.
Hamilton has previously criticised the absence of an African race from the F1 calendar and has repeatedly called for the championship to establish a presence on the continent.
Although the reported agreement represents a major step, Rwanda still faces a substantial construction programme before it can stage a Formula 1 race.
The circuit will need to meet FIA safety standards, while the wider development will require facilities for teams, spectators, broadcasters, hospitality operators and race officials.
Rwanda will also need to demonstrate that the surrounding transport and accommodation infrastructure can support thousands of visitors arriving for the event.
