RWANDA Target formula one African Grand Prix to turn ambition into opportunity

Rwanda is targeting the early 2030s to host the African Grand Prix, with President Paul Kagame saying the initiative aims to create economic opportunities, develop local talent and strengthen Africa’s participation in global motorsport.

The announcement was made on October 13, 2026, at BK Arena in Kigali, during an event attended by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, Formula One President and CEO Stefano Domenicali and other distinguished guests.

The proposed race is expected to mark Formula One’s return to the African continent after more than three decades, positioning Rwanda as a potential host of one of the world’s most prominent sporting events.

President Kagame said Rwanda had been working hard towards hosting the race, thanking Formula One and the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) for their trust and collaboration.

“It is an honour and privilege for Rwanda to be chosen as a destination in the Formula One calendar,” he said, describing the initiative as a milestone for Africa and its motorsport fans.

President Kagame stressed that the project was not intended to benefit Rwanda alone, but to open opportunities for other African countries and enable the continent to benefit more directly from the global sports industry.

“What brought us together is a shared conviction that Africa has the potential to elevate the quality of motorsport as a global and elite discipline,” he said.

He argued that although African athletes contribute significantly to the global sports economy, the continent has not always received comparable economic benefits. The Grand Prix, he said, could help change this through investments in infrastructure, tourism, hospitality and entertainment.

“This is not just about building venues. It is about creating a sustainable economic model where different revenue streams across hospitality, tourism and entertainment are generated and anchored into local communities,”President Kagame said.

Formula One identifies Rwanda as its African partner

Formula One President and CEO Stefano Domenicali described the announcement as a historic moment for the championship and the continent, saying Rwanda had emerged as the right partner for its return to Africa.

“For many years, we have spoken about our desire to return, but always said we would return in the right way. With the right vision and the right partner. That partner is Rwanda,” Domenicali said.

He cited Formula One’s global following of more than 800 million fans, including over 100 million in Africa, noting that the race would bring the sport closer to millions of existing and potential fans.

Domenicali said the initiative would extend beyond race weekend, with ambitions to create lasting benefits through tourism, investment, education, skills development and support for local businesses.

“This is not simply about hosting a Grand Prix. This is about creating legacy and inspiration,” he said.

He added that Formula One would work with Rwanda and the FIA to develop a world-class circuit, facilities and a racing experience capable of attracting fans from across Africa and beyond.

FIA pledges support for local talent

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said the project represented an opportunity to strengthen motorsport development across Africa, noting that the continent had been absent from the Formula One calendar for more than three decades, with South Africa having hosted its last Grand Prix.

“This is not called Rwandan F1, it is called Africa. This is sending a message. It is about Africa,” he said.

Ben Sulayem emphasised that the initiative must build local expertise and give young people greater access to motorsport.

He cited karting as an example of the financial barriers facing aspiring drivers, noting that a season can cost approximately $250,000, putting the sport beyond the reach of many families.

He said the FIA would support grassroots programmes, education and training to make motorsport more accessible and help Rwanda develop the capabilities needed to host the event.

“It’s not a circus that goes on for a week and disappears. It has to engrave something back to the Rwandan society,”he said.

Proposed circuit to feature 17 corners

The event presented details of a proposed six-kilometre circuit featuring 17 corners and running in an anti-clockwise direction.

According to the presentation, the track would follow Rwanda’s natural terrain, incorporating its hills and elevation changes into the racing experience. It is expected to feature an elevation gain of 197 metres per lap, creating a technical challenge for drivers and engineers.

However, delivering the project will require extensive preparation, including circuit development, safety measures, infrastructure and workforce training.

During a panel discussion, Kagame dismissed concerns about whether Rwanda was too small to host such a major event.

“First, we are people, like the people of other parts of the world. There is nothing, no event, nothing that is bigger than people,” he said.

He explained that Formula One formed part of Rwanda’s broader ambitions and pointed to other international sporting events hosted in the country as evidence of its efforts to attract global competitions.

President Kagame added that the Grand Prix would involve private-sector investment and cooperation, with the intention of extending its benefits beyond Rwanda.

Young Africans expected to benefit

A key objective of the project is to enable young Africans to participate directly in motorsport, rather than remain spectators.

President Paul Kagame said the initiative could create opportunities for young people to become engineers, technicians, entrepreneurs and professionals in logistics and other supporting services.

He also highlighted Rwanda’s efforts to facilitate travel for Africans, saying the country wanted the project to benefit the wider continent.

“The whole project has opportunity written all over it,” he said.

The FIA and Formula One leadership similarly emphasised education, skills development and grassroots participation as essential to creating a lasting legacy.

The October 13 announcement marks the beginning of a process targeting the early 2030s. Turning the ambition into reality will depend on sustained cooperation, investment and preparation.

For Rwanda, the ultimate goal is to use the proposed African Grand Prix to generate tangible economic and social benefits while giving African talent greater opportunities to participate in the global motorsport industry.