Rwanda strike new deal to host African Grand Prix

For the first time since 1993, Formula 1 will be returning to Africa in what F1 President Stefano Domenicali has called “A landmark moment for F1”. Rwanda is set to host the African Grand Prix at a new purpose-built circuit in Bugesera from the early 2030s, with this 10 year deal striving to provide long-term economic growth and investment across the region.

Since acquiring the Formula One Group in 2017, Liberty Media has held ambitions to race in all six habitable continents, with their focus on expansion amid the sport’s boom in popularity marking a turning point for over 100 million fans living in Africa. Seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton has been a key advocate for a Grand Prix in Africa, having expressed his wish earlier this year to delay retirement until a race had been held there. Mercedes Driver George Russell has similarly expressed his support for the deal, mentioning that “Formula 1 is a worldwide sport. Africa is the only continent we don’t race on, and it’s about time we had a race there”. Talks continue in South Africa on the possibility of a second Grand Prix event on the continent, with the CEO of the Rwanda Development Board, Jean-Guy Afrika, having said: “We foresee a future where we look back at this moment and we see a critical juncture from where multiple races eventually end up happening in Africa.”

The track will be designed by former F1 Driver Alex Wurz and is envisaged to be about six kilometres long, with 17 corners and 200 metres of elevation change – almost double that of Spa-Francorchamps

The track will be designed by former F1 driver Alex Wurz and is envisaged to be about six kilometres long, with 17 corners and 200 metres of elevation change – almost double that of Spa-Francorchamps. It acts as a segment of a wider entertainment development project based near a newly constructed international airport. Beyond race weekends, the circuit will serve as an international motorsports hub, hosting major events and conferences as part of Rwanda’s drive to increase tourism.

As an up-and-coming sports and entertainment hub, Rwanda has recently hosted the 2024 FIA Awards Ceremony and FIA General Assemblies, making it what some describe as the ideal candidate for an African Grand Prix.

However, many fans question whether Rwanda is suited to host the race weekend amidst international calls of sportswashing

However, many fans question whether Rwanda is suited to host the race weekend amidst international calls of sportswashing. Amnesty International UK’s Head of Campaigns, Felix Jakens, said: “Rwanda is buying into the world’s biggest sports to polish its image and deflect from its appalling human rights record.”

With recent controversy over the country’s support for the M23 paramilitary group across the border in the Democratic Republic of Congo, existing sporting partnerships such as that of Arsenal and Bayern Munich have pulled out of contract renegotiations with Visit Rwanda. The country has since been accused of breaching multiple international treaties covering genocide prevention, racial discrimination, women’s rights, and torture, for which they are currently facing a case in the International Court of Justice. Jakens calls for Formula 1 to use its influence with the Rwandan authorities to push for change, though the country is not the first host to be accused of sportswashing.