Rwanda is on the verge of achieving its goal of hosting a Formula 1 race, following reports that it has reached an agreement with the leaders of the racing body. According to RacingNews365, a motorsport news outlet, Rwanda has agreed with Formula 1 officials, with an official announcement potentially to be made later this year. This development comes after South Africa, which had also been vying to host the event, had been in discussions with Formula 1 leaders.
Rwanda's bid to host Formula 1 was first made public in December 2024, when President Paul Kagame opened a meeting of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) in Kigali. At the time, Kagame stated that Rwanda had begun the process of applying to host a Grand Prix and that discussions with Stefano Domenicali, the CEO of Formula 1, had reached a promising stage. Hosting the FIA meeting in Kigali provided Rwanda with an opportunity to demonstrate its capabilities to the global motorsport community.
South Africa had been one of the countries with a strong chance of hosting Formula 1 in Africa, given its history in the sport and the presence of the Kyalami circuit. In 2025, the South African Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture launched a bid to secure funding or a partner to support the country's application to host a Formula 1 event. However, despite this effort, it appears that Rwanda has now taken the lead in securing the hosting rights.
One of the major challenges facing Rwanda's bid was the lack of a suitable circuit to host a Formula 1 event. To address this, Rwanda is planning to build a new, permanent circuit designed to meet the requirements of the racing body. According to reports, the new circuit will be built near the Bugesera International Airport, approximately 40 kilometers from Kigali.
The design of the new circuit has been developed by WurzDesign, a company founded by Alexander Wurz, a former Formula 1 driver. This new circuit will not be a refurbishment of an existing track but a purpose-built facility designed to host Formula 1 and other major motorsport events. The development of this new infrastructure is a key component of Rwanda's bid to host a Grand Prix.
If Rwanda's agreement with Formula 1 is confirmed, it will become the first country in Africa to host the event, beating out South Africa and other countries that have expressed interest in hosting a Grand Prix. The potential inclusion of Rwanda on the 2030 Formula 1 calendar marks a significant milestone for the country's motorsport ambitions.
The outcome of the bidding process is a significant setback for South Africa, which had been actively pursuing the opportunity to host a Formula 1 event. Despite the efforts of President Cyril Ramaphosa to secure the hosting rights, it appears that Rwanda has emerged as the preferred host.
Key points
- Rwanda has reportedly agreed with Formula 1 officials to host a Grand Prix, potentially on the 2030 calendar.
- The new circuit in Rwanda will be designed by WurzDesign and built near the Bugesera International Airport.
- Rwanda's bid to host Formula 1 has beaten out South Africa, which had also been vying for the opportunity.
