Rwanda chosen to host Formula 1 African Grand Prix in Bugesera
Formula 1 president Stefano Domenicali launched the African Grand Prix in Kigali on Tuesday and described the new deal as a "landmark" achievement. The announcement ends an absence of nearly 40 years of F1 racing on the continent and follows nearly 10 years of effort by F1's owners Liberty Media since it bought the sport at the start of 2017.
Rwanda has signed a 10-year deal to host an African Grand Prix from the "early 2030s" after submitting a single, fully backed proposal that secured F1's approval. Morocco failed to secure the necessary finances and South Africa presented up to four separate projects across three locations, two in Cape Town, which F1 considered too fragmented given interest from other countries for limited calendar slots.
The new circuit will be built in Bugesera, 25 miles south of the capital Kigali, and is being developed on a greenfield site close to a new international airport currently under construction. That wider development will include facilities across entertainment, residential, hotels, spas, sports science and an innovation hub, and insiders say there should be no difficulties completing the project by 2030.
The track has been designed by former F1 driver Alex Wurz and is envisaged to be about 6km (3.7 miles) long with 17 corners, using the undulating Rwandan landscape to produce nearly 200m of elevation change. Renders released bear obvious similarities to the first part of Suzuka and Wurz has indicated further consultation with teams and drivers will take place as the layout is finalised.
Domenicali spoke from the announcement stage in Kigali alongside Rwandan President Paul Kagame and FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, saying: "It is the legacy of all of us to be in this very special moment." He added that he was "very proud", and that F1 was "showing the world what it means to be a country that has a vision". He also described Rwanda as "one of the world's great success stories," followed by: "A nation of extraordinary natural beauty and stunning landscapes, combined with resilience and courage to overcome and be reborn from challenges of its past. It is a nation filled with ambition, creativity and determination. A nation that has become a destination for international investment, innovation and opportunity."
President Kagame said the project would bring "jobs, skills, tourism and new business" to Africa and that he wanted to "pave the way for other races to be hosted on the continent". "We are not just looking at Rwanda alone," he said. "We are looking at Rwanda in the context of a continent and we have ambitions to bring in our African brothers and sisters to participate. We have had many other big events." Rwanda emphasises the funding will come from a newly established development fund combining public and private investment and last month launched a five-year plan aiming to attract £3.5bn in private investment.
The announcement has prompted debate over sportswashing, with critics noting Rwanda faces a case brought by the Democratic Republic of Congo at the International Court of Justice accusing it of breaching multiple international treaties covering genocide prevention, racial discrimination, women's rights and torture. F1's own charter commits it to "respecting internationally recognised human rights in its operations globally" and says it focuses its efforts "in relation to those areas which are within our own direct influence". A statement accompanying the Rwandan announcement said: "We have the opportunity to inspire and bring the passion of F1 to 100 million people across Africa and sport can be a positive force for good." Felix Jakens, Amnesty International UK's head of campaigns, said: "Rwanda is buying into the world's biggest sports to polish its image and deflect from its appalling human rights record. "Formula 1 says sport can be 'a positive force for good'. That rings hollow if F1 shrugs off who it is partnering with. "Formula 1 must not be a bystander. It should use its influence with the Rwandan authorities to push for change, rather than lend its brand to a PR exercise." The article also notes similar controversies involving sports and money, citing sponsorship links to Arsenal and Aston Villa, Saudi Arabia hosting the Fifa World Cup in 2034, boxing's reliance on Saudi finance and golf's near split over Saudi investment and the LIV series.
The agreement formally commits Rwanda to hosting the African Grand Prix for 10 years beginning in the "early 2030s", a move F1 says will open the sport to a potential market of 100 million people across Africa.